Asia Cup 2022

After sparkling knocks from Mohammad Rizwan (78 not out off 57 balls), Fakhar Zaman (53 off 41 balls) and Khushdil Shah (35 not out off 15 balls) carried Pakistan to a daunting 193/2, Hong Kong were blown away by pacers and spinners to be bundled out for 38 in 10.5 overs, their lowest T20I total against a Full Member side, giving the Babar Azam-led side their biggest-ever win by runs in T20Is.

The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named left-arm spin all-rounder Axar Patel as the replacement for senior left-arm spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the ongoing Asia Cup in the UAE. "Jadeja has sustained a right knee injury and is ruled out of the tournament. He is currently under the supervision of the BCCI medical team. His replacement, Axar Patel was earlier named as one of the standbys in the squad and will join the team in Dubai soon," said the BCCI in an official statement.

While Sri Lanka and Afghanistan qualified for Super Four from Group B, it was the end of the tournament for Bangladesh, who lost both their matches. On the other hand, India have qualified for Super Four from Group A and the winner of the clash between Pakistan and Hong Kong on Friday will take the final slot. Chasing a challenging total of 184, Sri Lanka started off well, scoring 48 runs in the powerplay.

Both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka suffered defeats against Afghanistan, who are already into Super Four stage and now, sparks have started to fly between the two teams ahead of a virtual knockout match in Asia Cup 2022. Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka had taken a jibe at Bangladesh's bowling attack, calling them an "easier opponent" as compared to Afghanistan.

Suryakumar shared a 98-run stand off just 42 balls with Virat Kohli, who made 59 in 44 balls, hitting four and three sixes in his 31st T20I fifty and brought out some shots in the end as India fetched 78 runs in the last five overs to score a daunting 192-2 against Hong Kong. "Sky (Suryakumar) played an outstanding knock, a knock that I enjoyed thoroughly from the other end on a pitch which wasn't as easy as he made it look, to be honest.

At 94-2 in 13 overs, when KL Rahul's struggle ended at 36 off 39 balls, Suryakumar brought out his drives, slashes, scoops and sweeps apart from audacious wrist play sending the ball all over the park, hitting six fours and as many sixes at a strike-rate of 261.53 to get a 40-run win over Hong Kong and seal their spot in Super Four stage.

Rohit Sharma, who had taken up T20I captaincy after Kohli stepped down, has won 31 matches in the 37 outing while Virat Kohli achieved 30 wins in 50 T20I matches. Former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has helped India win 41 T20I matches under his captaincy from 72 matches, is still on top of the list.

Suryakumar Yadav plundered 26 runs in the 20th over and hit three sixes off the first three deliveries. He entered the list of fastest fifties by Indians in T20 International. Surya is also tied with Rohit Sharma in the list of most T20I runs by an Indian in one over. Yuvraj Singh's 36-run in an over against England is at the top. Rohit hit 26 runs against New Zealand.

Earlier, Suryakumar Yadav's fireworks in the last seven overs led him to be unconquered on 68 off just 26 balls and combined with Virat Kohli's 31st T20I fifty, 59 not out off 44 balls, propelled India to reaching a daunting 192/2. In defence of 192, spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja conceded just 48 runs overall to make up for the 97 runs leaked collectively by young pacers Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh to reduce Hong Kong to 152/5 in their 20 overs.

At 94/2 in 13 overs, when KL Rahul's struggle ended at 36 off 39 balls, Suryakumar walked in and changed the complexion of India's innings. With his drives, slashes, scoops and sweeps apart from audacious wrist play, he brought out a barrage of boundaries on Hong Kong's bowlers to remain unbeaten on 68 off 26 balls, hitting six fours and as many sixes.