Hong Kong pummelled by Pakistan

Former champions Pakistan thrashed Hong Kong by eight wickets in a one-sided match to open their Asia Cup campaign on Sunday.

Pakistan's bowling attack was too hot to handle as Usman Shinwari finished with 3-19 and Hasan Ali took 2-19, while leg-spinner Shadab Khan managed 2-31 to bowl Hong Kong out for 116 in 37.1 overs.

Pakistan then completed the chase comfortably for the loss of opener Fakhar Zaman (24) and Babar Azam (33), while Imam-ul-Haq finished on 50 not out after just 23.4 overs.

It proved another cakewalk for Pakistan, like their two previous victories against Hong Kong, by 173 runs in the 2004 Asia Cup in Colombo and by 155 in Karachi four years later.

This was a perfect warm-up for Pakistan ahead of their high-profile showdown with arch rivals India, also in Dubai on Wednesday.

Hong Kong struggled after captain Anshuman Rath won the toss and chose to bat in the Group A opener.

SCORES IN BRIEF

HONG KONG: 116 all out in 37 overs (Rath 19, Shah 26, Aizaz 27; Usman 3-19, Hasan 2-31, Faheem 1-10)

PAKISTAN: 120 for 2 in 23.4 overs (Imam 50 not out, Babar 33, Fakhar 24; Ehsan 2-34)

Result: Pakistan won by eight wickets.

Player-of-the-match: Usman Khan.