Tanvir, Alam guide Pakistan to 155-run win

Karachi: Pakistan overcame some early hiccups as Fawad Alam and Sohail Tanvir led a great rescue work to help their team register an easy 155-run victory in the end against Hong Kong in the opening match of the six-nation Asia Cup on Tuesday.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan lost their top and middle–order and were struggling at 161-7, before a crucial eight-wicket partnership of 100 runs between Alam (63 not out) and Tanvir (59) enabled them recover and post a competitive 288-9 in their allotted 50 overs.

But it was Hong Kong’s Nadeem Ahmed who stole the show with his impressive 4-51 from 9 overs as he instilled a sense of fear in Pakistani batsmen at one stage, despite Younis Khan’s fine 65-ball 67.

1.Live Score card

2.Short Highlights

Ultimately though, it was a patient innings by Alam, coupled with an aggressive batting style of Tanvir, who then picked up two wickets as well, that paid rich dividends for the hosts.

Chasing 289, Hong Kong played out seven overs without losing a wicket. But once Tanvir got the first break-through, the visitors failed to revive at any point in time and finished at 133-9 from 37.2 overs.

Zain Abbas (26) and James Atkinson (18) tried providing some stability with 31-run stand together but eventually they couldn't sustain, while Abbas also got injured and never took the field again.

Meanwhile, Munir Dar (14), Najeeb Amar (21) got the starts but only delayed the inevitable.

Pakistani bowlers, on the other hand, maintained a tight line, giving no option to opponents.

Rao Iftikhar Anjum (2-18), Tanvir (2-20), and Shahid Afridi (2-31) were the pick of the bowlers.

Earlier, after losing Salman Butt in the very first over, Pakistan took a long time to get into the rhythm as they managed to put on just 20 runs at the end of the fifth overs.