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Asia Cup 2025 1st Match: Afghanistan Won By 94 Runs, Atal’s 73*
Updated - 10-SEP-2025 5:39 IST
On 9 September, an exciting match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi marked the opening of the Asia Cup 2025 cricket tournament. Afghanistan showed its depth and experience. Afghanistan beat Hong Kong by 94 runs. Sediqullah Atal scored 73* runs.
Match Summary
Afghanistan’s Strong Batting Display, scored 188
Afghanistan's openers got off to a good start after being put in to bat first. Sediqullah Atal
Scored a massive inning of 73* in 52 balls, maintained the innings with a cool knock, while Azmatullah Omarzai 's aggressive stroke play produced an early explosive inning of 53 in 21 balls with a strike rate of 250+.
By taking advantage of the platform, the middle order—led by Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib increased the pace of scoring in the last overs. Afghanistan reached a respectable score of 188/6 in 20 overs because of their ability to switch up their attack and hit boundaries frequently.
While Kinchit Shah took 2 wickets skillfully, managed his resources despite Afghanistan's batting power, Ayush Shukla was Hong Kong's best bowler, employing his variations to take vital two wickets.
Hong Kong’s Chase Stumbles
Hong Kong needed a good start to chase 189, but Afghanistan's pace attack got going right away. In the middle overs, Rashid Khan tightened the screws with his signature leg-spin, while Fazalhaq Farooqi dismissed opener Anshy Rath in a duck during the powerplay.
After the first defeats, Babar Hayat played a fighting knock by runs by combining strategic aggression with restraint. The innings was steadied by Yasim Murtaza, who supported him, but the pressure persisted due to the increasing run rate.
After Hayat was dismissed by Gulbadin Naib for a solid 39, Hong Kong's chase stalled.
In the end, Afghanistan won by 94 runs to begin their Asia Cup campaign in grand style after Hong Kong could only muster 94/9 in their 20 overs.