That's all from us tonight. Ciao!
Pakistan start as favourites against Hong Kong. © AFP
Mohammad Rizwan takes the Player of the Match for his assured knock of 78*.
It was Rizwan's assuring knock of 78* that laid the base for their strong total. The 116-run stand with Fakhar Zaman playing a vital role in preserving wickets for late hitting. The no. 3 hit a half-century of his own, and kick-started the acceleration that Khushdil Shah carried forward. 89 runs in the last 6 overs were a complete game-changer. For Hong Kong, once they lost early wickets, there was no redemption.
Pakistan win by 155 runs - their biggest win in T20I history!
Shadab takes 4 for 8 with his googlies, Nawaz picks 3/5, Naseem bags two and it's been a complete annihilation. Hong Kong have collapsed to 38 all out!
Getting difficult to keep track now.. Hong Kong are collapsing faster than I can type!
Another one bites the dust
Another wong'un from Shadab Khan, and another wicket for Pakistan. Haroon Arshad departs.
Nawaz strikes twice
...in the space of three deliveries! First to go is KD Shah, trapped in front after he misses his attempted slog-sweep. Burns a review on his way. And one ball later, McKechnie meets the same fate.
Shadab joins the party
Undone by the googly. Aizaz Khan fails to read it. He wanted to cut. The ball turns and disturbs the stumps. Shadab strikes on his second ball of the game and Pakistan take a step closer to the Super Fours
Hong Kong stutter early
Naseem Shah strikes twice in his second over. First gets Nizakat Khan out caught at cover and then picks the big wicket of Babar Hayat, bowling him with a fast full one. Hayat didn't help matters with a wild swing and lost his stumps. Dahani sends down a wicket-maiden in powerplay - taking out Yasim Murtaza. HK in deep trouble early on.
Khushdil cameo propels Pakistan to 193/2
A hattrick of sixes to finish the over, and innings! 35* off just 15 deliveries and that's advantage Pakistan. Big-game pressure finally taking a toll on Hong Kong. Rizwan finishes unbeaten on 78 off 57. The partnership responsible for Hong Kong's misery is 64* off just 23 balls!
WICKET
The century stand is broken! Fakhar slices one to backward point and Ehsan again lands a crucial blow. Pakistan were beginning to accelerate. Will this set them back?
Zaman joins the party
Fifty for the no. 3 as well, and he gets there with a six that hit literally out of the park! His second six in as many overs. Pakistan upping the ante finally.
Fifty up!
Rizwan gets to the milestone with a single - it's been that kid of a day. But the Pakistan opener is beginning to break free. There was a six downtown and a boundary n the two preceding overs. Pakistan need this acceleration, and he's well-set to do it.
Rizwan survives a stumping appeal.
Drinks break: Pakistan 64/1 after 10 overs
Half-Fifty stand
...between Fakhar and Rizwan. Fakhar just got an LBW call overturned for it was pitching outside leg. But it's been a slow going for Pakistan. The slowness of the pitch finally playing a part here. Time for Pakistan to up the ante.
Quiet powerplay for Pakistan
Not exactly what Pakistan would have wanted when Babar said they wanted to put up a big total on the board. It's been a sedate start, but Pakistan are capable of exploding after settling in. Powerplay done for now - 40/1.
Big fish
Ehsan Khan strikes and he knows it's a big one! Babar sends one back in the bowler's direction, and he holds on to a fine, low diving catch to send the Pakistan captain on his way cheaply. gone for 9 off 8.
Two quiet overs from Hon Kong. Pakistan have 7 on the board, without any loss.
All set. No change in Pakistan's opening pair. Let's go.
Teams line up for national anthems.
Minutes away from live action...
Playing XIs:
Pakistan:Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani
Hong Kong:Nizakat Khan(c), Yasim Murtaza, Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah, Aizaz Khan, Zeeshan Ali, Scott McKechnie(w), Haroon Arshad, Ehsan Khan, Ayush Shukla, Mohammad Ghazanfar
TOSS: Hong Kong opt to field first. Both teams are unchanged. Babar admitting he would have batted first anyway.
Toss coming up in 15, don't go anywhere!
Hello!
Welcome back to our live blog for Game 6 of the Asia Cup 2022 - the last group game and the last Super 4 spot is up for grabs. Both teams have suffered defeats against India in this group, and hence it's a do-or-die where Pakistan are the favourites. After their spirit performance against India, can Hong Kong mount a challenge for Pakistan now? Or will Pakistan pick up their first T20I win of the year? We'll find it all out shortly.