Asia Cup 2025: Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai shine; Afghanistan kick off campaign with 94-run win over Hong Kong | Cricket News

Afghanistan vs Hong Kong (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Afghanistan secured a convincing 94-run victory over Hong Kong of their Asia Cup opener. The match was highlighted by spectacular fifties from Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai, adopted by a disciplined bowling efficiency.Afghanistan posted a complete of 188 for six, with Atal remaining unbeaten on 73 off 52 balls and Omarzai scoring 53 off 21 balls.The Afghan bowling assault, spearheaded by Fazalhaq Farooqi with 2/16 and Gulbadin Naib with 2/8, restricted Hong Kong to 94 for 9.Hong Kong’s chase faltered early as they misplaced 4 wickets in the course of the Power Play, leaving them at 23 for 4.The strain led to 2 run-outs involving Nizakat Khan and Kalhan Challu. Challu was caught wanting the crease when Omarzai hit the stumps.Anshuman Rath, their opening batsman, was dismissed within the second ball of the innings, caught behind by Rahmanullah Gurbaz off Farooqi’s bowling.Hong Kong’s center and decrease order struggled towards Afghanistan’s skilled bowling lineup after the highest 4 batsmen’s early departure.Babar Hayat scored 39 off 43 balls for Hong Kong, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to problem Afghanistan’s whole.Earlier, Atal and Omarzai helped Afghanistan recuperate from their top-order’s wrestle towards slower deliveries.The duo tailored nicely to the pitch circumstances, selecting their moments to assault. Atal began aggressively within the Power Play earlier than settling into a gentle rhythm.Atal reached his third T20I fifty in 41 balls. Between the fifth and thirteenth over, he hit just one six off Kinchit Shah’s bowling.Shah’s under-cutters proved difficult for the Afghan batsmen, who struggled to attain towards his bowling.Mohammad Nabi scored 33 off 26 balls and briefly confirmed aggression with a 4 and 6 towards Aizaz Khan.Nabi’s innings ended when he was caught by Nizakat Khan at long-off off Shah’s bowling, breaking a 51-run third-wicket partnership.Afghanistan discovered themselves at 95 for 4 after 13 overs. Atal acquired a lifeline when Ehsan Khan dropped him at quick third man off Yasim Murtaza’s bowling.Atal and Omarzai then shaped an 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Omarzai dominated the nineteenth over, hitting Ayush Shukla for 3 sixes and a 4 consecutively.Atal attacked Ateeq Iqbal’s bowling with two sixes and a 4 within the seventeenth over, serving to Afghanistan rating 78 runs within the ultimate 5 overs.Hong Kong’s fielding deteriorated within the latter phases, with Omarzai additionally benefiting from a dropped catch.