Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, China Ball by Ball Commentary - Asia Cup 2025

19.6Nope, they can't! Fazalhaq Farooqi lands this short of a length and outside off, Ayush Shukla slashes at it but misses it completely. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 94 RUNS!

19.5Change of pace again, on a length and on middle, Ateeq Iqbal makes room and guides it to third man for one. Can Hong Kong, China, at least get to a 100 here?

19.4Bangs in a short ball, outside off, Ateeq Iqbal has a wild swing at it but misses.

19.3Back of a length and around off,  Ateeq Iqbal backs away and steers it to point.

19.2OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Hong Kong, China are on the verge of getting bowled out here. Fazal gives no pace again, on a length and on middle, sticks to the surface. Ehsan Khan uses his feet to play at it with hard hands but ends up just chipping it back towards the bowler. Farooqi on his follow-through, gets down quickly and takes a good catch with the ball dying in front of him. Hong Kong, China are 93/9 now!

19.1Slower one, on a length and on off, Ehsan Khan keeps it out down the pitch.

18.6A full toss, on middle, Ehsan Khan steps across and clips it off the inner half of the bat onto the pads as the ball rolls towards square leg. They cross. There is also an appeal for LBW, but nothing doing.

18.5Pitched up and on off, swings in a bit, Ayush Shukla forces it to long on for one.

18.4OUT! LBW! Gulbadin Naib has two now! He cleverly takes all the pace off and bowls a leg-cutter, full and on middle, spins in a bit too. Yasim Murtaza crouches low to swipe across the line but gets beaten by the lack of pace and goes decades early through the shot. The ball thumps him on the back thigh right in front of the stumps. There is a big appeal, and the finger goes up. However, Murtaza takes a review here, but UltraEdge confirms no bat involved, and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. Hong Kong, China lose their skipper, a review, and are eight down now.

18.4WIDE! Fuller but down the leg side, Yasim Murtaza fails to lay a bat on that. Called a wide.

18.3Swing and a miss! Hits the length hard, on middle, skids through. Yasim Murtaza uses his feet to heave it over mid-wicket but misses as the ball just goes over the stumps.

18.2Back of a length and on off, Ehsan Khan moves across, rides the bounce and dabs it towards covers for a single.

18.1Fuller and on middle, angling in sharply, Ehsan Khan pats it to the right of the bowler.

17.6Noor Ahmad ends with incredible figures of 4-0-16-1! Floated, full and on off, turns in sharply, Yasim Murtaza prods forward to defend but misses and gets hit high on the pads.

17.5FOUR! That's a fine shot! Tossed up, full and around off, Yasim Murtaza uses his feet to go inside out and slaps it over extra cover for a boundary.

17.5WIDE! Darts one full but down the leg side, Yasim Murtaza misses his sweep. Wided.

17.4Wrong' un, full and on off, turns away, Ehsan Khan guides it to point for a run.

17.3Flighted, full and on leg, Ehsan Khan swipes it straight to short fine.

17.2Flatter, shortish and on middle and off, Ehsan Khan goes down across to sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads as the ball lobs up onto his helmet. A big shout for LBW, but turned down.

17.1Fires in a yorker, on middle, Yasim Murtaza bunts it out towards long on for a single.

16.6Googly, short and on off, turns in, Ehsan Khan tries to cut but gets an outside edge on a couple of bounces to short third. Rashid Khan finishes his spell with fine figures of 4-0-24-1.

16.5Quicker, short and on leg, Yasim Murtaza swipes it off the inside half of the bat towards deep square leg for one.

16.4Flighted, full and on off, Ehsan Khan pushes it towards covers for a single.

16.3Flatter, full and on middle, Ehsan Khan goes down and paddles it towards fine leg for a brace.

16.2OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust! Rashid Khan gets his first wicket in his last over. He tosses it up, full and on middle, turns away a bit. Aizaz Khan looks to slog it across the line, but the ball just holds on the surface and takes the top edge. It goes miles in the air towards long on. Mohammad Nabi runs forward a bit too much at first, but then adjusts well and takes a good catch with a reverse cap above his head. Keeps his balance nicely too. Afghanistan are just 3 wickets away from winning now!

16.1Floated, short and on off, Aizaz Khan stays back and pushes it to short covers.

15.6Tossed up, full and on middle, Aizaz Khan goes down and swipes it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

15.5Flighted, full and outside off, Yasim Murtaza goes after it but ends up slicing it in the air. 'Catch it' is the call, but it drops well wide of deep point. They cross.

15.4A googly, shortish and on off, Aizaz Khan stabs it out to deep point for a single.

15.3Floated, full and around leg, Yasim Murtaza is out of his crease again but misses his flick as the ball goes off his pads towards square leg. A leg bye taken.

15.2Slows it up, full and on middle and off, Yasim Murtaza comes down the track to block it out.

15.1DROPPED! That goes really fast but still should have been taken! Floated, full and on off, Yasim Murtaza uses his feet and carves it hard and aerially towards short covers. It is hit straight and flat to Rashid Khan, who fails to react quickly. gets both his hands on it near his chest but spills it out.

15.1WIDE! Oh..wow! What was that? Noor Ahmad tries to bowl quicker and flatter but the ball gets stuck in his hand. He serves this way, way outside leg. Yasim Murtaza leaves it alone, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz does well to dive to his right to stop it well. Wided.

14.6Wrong'un, full and on leg, Yasim Murtaza uses his feet and works it towards long on for one more.

14.5Goes short and on middle, Aizaz Khan heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one.

14.4Another loud appeal for LBW, but turned down again! This is a googly, full and on middle, turns in a bit. Aizaz Khan looks to flick it away but misses and gets hit on the pads. Probably turning a bit too much here.

14.3Pushed through, on the stumps, spinning away. Yasim Murtaza pushes hard at it, but inside edges it past the stumps towards backward square leg. A single taken.

14.2On the shorter side again and outside off, Aizaz Khan punches it down to long off for a single.

14.1Drops it short and just outside off, Yasim Murtaza cuts it hard towards deep point for a single.

13.6Hard length and on middle, angling in, Yasim Murtaza works it through square leg for one more. Much better from Janat, concedes just 5 runs in this over!

13.5Bangs in a bouncer, outside off, Aizaz Khan drags his pull off the bottom end towards deep mid-wicket for one.

13.4Short of a length and around off, Yasim Murtaza pulls it on the bounce to deep square leg for another run.

13.3Bashes the hard length, around middle and off, Aizaz Khan swipes it towards square leg and scampers to the other end.

13.2Hurls it on a shorter length around off, Yasim Murtaza punches it off the back foot across on the leg side for a single.

13.1A huge shout for LBW, but turned down by the umpire and Rashid Khan has decided to send it upstairs! Karim Janat bowls it from round the wicket and keeps it on a length over off. Yasim Murtaza gets squared up a bit to flick that across off the back foot but gets pinged on the back leg. There is nothing on the UltraEdge, but the Ball Tracking shows impact outside off, so the NOT OUT call stays. Afghanistan have burnt both their reviews now.

12.6Pitched up, on middle, swings in late, Aizaz Khan looks to drive but gets a bottom edge towards mid on.

12.5OUT! TAKEN IN THE DEEP! Gulbadin Naib gets among the wickets now! He bangs this into the pitch, on off. Babar Hayat stays back and looks to pull it away but the ball gets a bit big on him. It takes the top edge and flies towards deep mid-wicket. Sediqullah Atal runs forward and to his right, sits on his knee and takes a fine catch with the ball dying on him a bit. Hayat departs for a gritty 39 off 43, and Hong Kong, China are 63/6, still needing 126 runs in 43 balls.

12.4On a length and on midde, Yasim Murtaza nudges it thorugh square leg for another run.

12.3Goes wide off the crease, and bowls it on a good length outside off, gets the ball to shape away a bit. Yasim Murtaza shapes to drive that on the off side, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

12.2Delivers a slower delivery, full around the stumps, Babar Hayat looks to heave it across but ends up chipping it over the bowler for a single.

12.1On top of off, on a length, Yasim Murtaza clips it through square leg for a run.

11.6Much fuller and on off, Babar Hayat drills it out to sweeper covers for a brace. 16 runs off the over!

11.5SIX! Stand and deliver! Karim Janat bangs this into the pitch, around off, takes pace off too. Babar Hayat stands tall, extends his arms, and swats it over the long on fence for a biggie. Hong Kong, China need a lot more of these.

11.4Great effort from the keeper! Back of a length and on off, Yasim Murtaza looks to push it away but gets an inside edge to the left of the keeper and sets off for the run. Rahmanullah Gurbaz removes his right glove, runs to his left, picks up and fires in a good throw at the stumps on the batter's end. However, Hayat has put in an excellent dive and is well inside, as confirmed by the replay as well.

11.3Bashes the hard length outside off, gets the pace off from the delivery. Babar Hayat slaps it down to long off and takes a run.

11.2SIX! Sweetly struck! Karim Janat bangs it on the shorter length and around middle and off. The ball sets up nicely, as Babar Hayat clears his front leg and thumps it over wide long on for a cracking six.

11.1Bowls it shorter at the batter, gets it to skid through the surface. Babar Hayat looks to pull that across, but gets cramped up and ends up pushing it back to the bowler.

10.6Touch fuller and on middle, Yasim Murtaza pushes it off the outer half of the bat to covers. Just one run off the over!

10.5Swing and a miss! Gulbadin Naib sees the batter advance and serves this full, well outside off, Yasim Murtaza is nowhere near it but still swings wildy across the line, only to connect with thin air.

10.4Hard length and around off, Yasim Murtaza stays in his crease, hangs his bat away and stabs it back to the bowler.

10.3Bowls it on a length and outside off. Yasim Murtaza sets to cut it through but the ball catches the bottom edge and gets behind to the keeper.

10.2Dishes out a slower, low full toss delivery over off, Babar Hayat strokes it down to long off for a single.

10.1Full and swinging in, around the pads. Babar Hayat looks to flick that across, but misses. Interestingly, no wide given by the umpire.

9.6A googly, on a fullish length, spinning back in from off. Yasim Murtaza leans forward and taps it with soft hands to mid on. Halfway into the chase, Hong Kong, China are 43/5.

9.5OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! CAUGHT! Karim Janat redeems himself with a screamer of a catch! Quicker leg break on middle, and the length is a bit fullish. In fact, this is a googly, and he pulls the length by a yard or so, forcing the batter to reach for it. Kinchit Shah takes a huge stride forward and tries to sweep it. Goes through the shot, playing it aerially, to the right of deep fine leg. Gets neither the elevation nor the required distance. Karim Janat from deep fine leg runs across to his right, flings himself towards the ball and plucks a fantastic diving catch. Slides on the ground but sustains the ball in his hands. Kinchit Shah departs on 6 (10) and Hong Kong, China are 43/5 down now, needong 146 runs off 61 balls.

9.4Flights it wide outside off, full in length. Kinchit Shah lofts it inside out over cover. Sediqullah Atal from long off runs across to his right and cuts it off with a slide. Two taken.

9.3Babar steps out again, but Noor does well to drop it on a length and relatively quicker, at the stumps. The ball catches the outside edge and rolls on the off side, as Hayat looks to turn it away on the leg side. A single is taken.

9.2Bowls it quicker this time around, on a length over off, Babar knocks it down the deck.

9.1Bowls it quicker and pushes it across the batter, on off, a tad shorter, Babar steps out to block it out.

8.6Drag-downer, on middle. Babar Hayat stabs it down to long on for a single. 10 runs off Rashid's second over. His figures read 2-0-15-0. Hong Kong, China need 149 runs from 66 balls!

8.5Fuller delivery, spinning in from middle. Kinchit Shah mistimes the sweep shot to the vacant square leg region for a single.

8.4Spotting Babar advancing down the track, Rashid darts it on the leg stump line. Babar Hayat heaves it across to deep square leg for a single.

8.3Drags his length back, after seeing the batter step down the track. Babar pushes it back towards the bowler in the end.

8.2SIX! MASSIVE! Khan drops it on a yard behind full and just around off, Kinchit Shah puts on his dancing shoes to reach towards the pitch of the delivery and smashes it high over the long on fence for a biggie.

8.1Quicker and flatter at the stumps, Kinchit Shah presses back to pull it across on the leg side for a run.

7.6Slides it on the middle stump, fullish in length. Babar Hayat lunges forward and eases it back to the bowler. Excellent start for Noor Ahmad. Just 2 off his first over. 7 from the last two overs for Hong Kong, China as they need 159 off 72!

7.5Pitched outside leg, and very full. Babar Hayat misses to sweep and is struck on the front pad.

7.4Quick and flat, just outside off. Kinchit Shah waits back and cuts it to deep point for a single.

7.3Bowls it closer at the batter, on the fuller side, Babar Hayat prods forward to stroke it down to long off for a single.

7.2On the shorter side and wide outside off, Babar Hayat reaches out for it and finds backward point.

7.1Lands it fuller and outside off, Babar Hayat lunges forward to drive it straight to short covers.

6.6Drags the length, on middle, tucked wide of mid on for a single.

6.5Flipper, full and outside off. Kinchit Shah bludgeons it down the ground, but Rashid purposefully sticks out his right leg, and the ball deflects to run down to long off for a single.

6.4An appeal for caught behind, but the umpire says no. Rashid Khan, after a brief chat with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, sends it upstairs. This is dished out full and on the middle stump line. The ball lands and spins back into the batter. Kinchit Shah shuffles across to play the scoop shot, but the ball passes close to the inside edge and pops off the front pad. Rahmanullah Gurbaz moves to his right and gathers it safely. UltraEdge comes up and shows that the ball is clearly missing the inside edge. And now, the third umpire checks for a possible LBW. Ball Tracking shows the impact is outside the off stump line. So, NOT OUT on both fronts.

6.3Sliding onto the pads and on the fuller side, Babar Hayat nudges it across on the leg side for a run.

6.2Fuller and straighter at the stumps, Babar Hayat defends it off the front foot.

6.1Drops it fuller and around the pads, Babar Hayat turns it away towards the vacant square leg region and charges back for the second run and completes it easily. Rashid Khan doesn't look happy with that fielding effort.

5.6Shortens the length, on off, Babar Hayat rocks back and punches it down to long off for a single. Hong Kong, China end their Powerplay at 23/4, needing 166 runs!

5.5Floated up, full and in front of the sticks. Hayat lunges forward with a giant stride to block it back.

5.4A big appeal for LBW, but the umpire does not entertain it. Looked to be sliding down the leg stump line, or maybe a little scratch on the inside edge. In-drifter, staying low, on a fuller length. Babar Hayat is hurried to go back and tries to block it forward, but gets a thick inside edge onto the front pad. The UltraEdge detects a clear spike on the inside edge.

5.3Goes fuller and gets the ball to drift in late around the stumps, Babar Hayat looks to push it away, but ekes out an inside edge towards short mid-wicket.

5.2Bowls the in-drifter, fuller and around middle, Babar Hayat goes back and knocks it back towards the bowler.

5.1Fuller and sliding into the pads, Babar Hayat pushes it off the inner half of the bat towards the bowler.

4.6Fuller than a length, on off, driven down to mid on. Just 3 runs in the over. Azmatullah Omarzai's figures read 2-0-4-1.

4.5Full and angling into the batter, on the leg stump line. Kinchit Shah tries to flick that away, but misses and wears on the front pad. A big appeal for LBW, but the umpire shakes his head in denial. Probably doing a bit too much to go down leg.

4.4Inswinger on the pads, on a length, Kinchit misses to flick and the ball thuds the thigh pad.

4.3OUT! RUN OUT! All going south for Hong Kong, China here! Azmatullah Omarzai can do nothing wrong this evening! Swings back in from off, on a fuller length, on middle. Kalhan Challu is hurried and drives straight back to the bowler, off the inside half of the bat. Azmatullah Omarzai collects the ball to his right and, seeing Challu out of the crease after playing the shot, he releases a flat throw in a motion, towards the batting end. Scores a direct hit as the stumps are smashed with Kalhan Challu trying to turn around. He dives and stretches his hand to drag his bat inside the popping crease. However, the side-on replay shows that Challu's bat is marginally in the air, while the stumps are hit. Kalhan Challu departs for 4 (8) and Hong Kong, China are 22/4.

4.2Good fielding this time around! Good length, outside off, Kalhan Challu waits back and punches it to deep backward point. Karim Janat from deep third runs across to his right and slides to intercept. Does well to flick the ball inside in time and saves two for his side.

4.1IN THE AIR... DROPPED! A huge reprieve for Babar Hayat! Rashid Khan's expressions say it all! Back of a length, outside off. Babar Hayat reaches for it, extends his arms and flashes at it hard. Only gets a thick outside edge and the ball pops up and behind. Dips in front of the incoming Karim Janat from deep third. He dives forward, gets his hands on the ball, but it just pops in and out of his palms. A single taken.

3.6OPPORTUNITY GONE BEGGING! AM Ghazanfar dishes out a fuller delivery, on middle, sliding into the batter through the air. Kalhan Challu tries to slog it over the leg side, but gets a leading edge. The ball hangs up in the air for a long time, to the right of mid off. Ibrahim Zadran tries to settle under it, but Sediqullah Atal comes charging towards his left from mid on and with no calling from either of the two for the catch, the ball drops between them. AM Ghazanfar is not happy and rightly so.

3.5A slip in place now. Full and at 95 kph, on middle. Challu lunges forward and pushes it to mid on.

3.4Quicker in-drifter, on a fuller length, on middle. Kalhan Challu creates room and steers it to the point fielder.

3.3Slides it down leg, on a fullish length. Hayat leans on and tucks it to wide square leg for a single.

3.2Slider onto the pads, clipped away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

3.1AM Ghazanfar is into the attack. Hard length, around off, nipping in a touch. Babar Hayat stands tall and flat bats it down the ground for a single.

2.6Risky running! Back of a length, outside off. Babar Hayat taps it with soft hands to the point fielder and rushes off for a quick single. Kalhan Challu is struggling to get home at the batting end, but the fielder misses to score a direct hit, which allows Challu to get safely in.

2.5Full, angling in, Kalhan Challu pushes at the delivery, gets an inside edge due to the late inswing. The ball rolls to deep backward square leg for a single.

2.4Jags back in sharply, on a hard length, on middle. Kalhan Challu hops off the crease and wears it onto the thigh pad.

2.3Rolls the fingers on the leather, on a length, onto the pads. Babar Hayat waits for it and turns it to the leg side for a single.

2.2RUN OUT! Oh, dear! This is the last thing Hong Kong, China would have wanted! Full delivery, on off, Babar Hayat gets on the front foot and drives it firmly, but straight to mid off. Nizakat tries to pinch in a single, but is sent back by Babar. There is a direct hit at the non-striker's end from Rashid Khan. Oh, hang on! This is really closer than it appears and the on-field umpires have sent it upstairs for a run out check. Looks like Nizakat Khan's bat is marginally outside the crease. The zoomer comes in and confirms that Nizakat is just short of his crease. He departs without facing a single delivery and Hong Kong, China are tottering at 13/3, needing 176 runs!

2.2WIDE! Miles outside off, beyond the tramline, Babar tries to reach out for it, but misses. Wide called.

2.1Length-delivery, swinging away from outside off. Babar Hayat flashes hard to work it square on the off side, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

1.6OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! After doing wonders with the bat, Omarzai strikes gold with the ball as well. He lands this on the fuller side, and gets the ball to curve away from middle. Zeeshan Ali tries to work it leg side, but does not account for the ball shaping late, and ends up chipping it off the leading edge. Mohammad Nabi from mid on runs to his left and takes a good running catch. A soft, soft dismissal for Ali. Both Hong Kong, China openers are back in the hut, in the first couple of overs! Zeeshan Ali goes for 5 (6) and Hong Kong, China are 12/2, needing 177 runs!

1.5Fuller and outside off, driven firmly, but straight to the cover fielder.

1.4Sharp nip-backer, on middle and leg, shortish in length. Zeeshan Ali is cramped for space and tries to work it across, but misses and wears on the back thigh pad.

1.3Back of a length, shaping away late, outside off. Hayat hangs the bat away and gets a thick outside edge. The ball runs behind to deep third for a single.

1.2Curves away a shy bit, on a length, around off. Babar Hayat lets the ball come at him and punches it to the off side with soft hands.

1.1Nagging length, shaping away, on off. Babar pushes at it and gets a thick inside edge as the ball dribbles past the off stump to the keeper.

0.6Around the stumps, swinging into the batter, on a length, outside off. Zeeshan mistimes and heaves it off the toe end to short mid-wicket. 11 off the first over then!

0.5FOUR! Lovely stroke! That will give him a lot of confidence! Fuller delivery, angling around off. Zeeshan Ali taps the front foot forward and drives it straight down the ground for a cracking boundary!

0.5FIVE WIDES! Wayward and miles down leg, Zeeshan Ali lets it be and the ball beats the diving Gurbaz to his left for a boundary.

0.4Babar is off the mark! Very full and outside off, angling across. Babar Hayat carves it out to mid off for a single.

0.3Full and on middle and leg, Babar Hayat prods forward and pushes it to mid on.

0.2OUT! EDGED AND CAUGHT BEHIND! Anshy Rath looks skeptical and has a bit of a chat with his partner, but eventually, starts his long walk back to the dugout. Afghanistan get their first wicket in the very first over. Fazalhaq Farooqi lands it on a back of a length, and gets the ball to shape away from the fourth stump line. Anshy Rath without any foot movement, hangs his bat away from the body and pushes at it. Only manages to get a faint graze off the glove and Rahmanullah Gurbaz does the rest behind the wickets. A regulation catch for him. Anshy Rath departs on a golden duck and Hong Kong, China are 1/1, needing 188 runs! Oh..wow! The replay and UltraEdge after the ball show that there is a big gap between bat and ball, and the spike is also after the ball has passed the bat. Rath is furious in the hut and will not be happy with his opening partner, who insisted that he had nicked it.

0.1Zeeshan Ali and Hong Kong, China are underway in the chase! Fazalhaq Farooqi begins with a length ball, tails back on the leg stump. Zeeshan Ali lifts the front leg up and pulls it along the ground to deep square leg for a single.