Hong Kong national cricket team has been knocked out from the group stage of the ACC Premier Cup after a loss against Kuwait in the last group stage match. Kuwait finished second after the 30-run win and joined UAE to book a place in the semifinal.
UAE finished on top with six points. Kuwait also managed six points, but UAE having a better NRR, topped the group. Hong Kong could have topped the points table but were stunned by Kuwait.
With this, Semi-final fixtures have also been fixed. Nepal will face Kuwait, whereas Oman and UAE will battle in the other match.
Invited to bat first at Mulpani Cricket Ground, Kuwait scored 272/8 in 50 overs. Shiraz Khan scored 67 whereas Usman Patel added 48-ball 50. Opener Adnan Idrees scored 45 while Sayed Monib whacked 14-ball 31 in the end.
Ehsan Khan grabbed three wickets for Hong Kong. Othe five bowlers grabbed one wicket each.
In reply, Kuwait restricted Hong Kong to 242, winning the match by 30 runs. Shahrukh Quddus was the pick of a bowler, grabbing three wickets. Yasin Patel also picked up two with a healthy economy.
Hong Kong lost two main batters, Anshuman Rath and Babar Hayat, within the powerplay. They were 56/3 within the 15th over. Skipper Nizakat Khan (60) and Aziz Khan (49) tried to bring them back in with 91 runs stand but were fumbled again after the dismissal of Aziz.
Kuwait faced a 143-run defeat against UAE in the first match and bounced back well to win the remaining three matches. Meanwhile, Hong Kong defeated UAE, but their match against Bahrain was abandoned due to the rain forcing them to share a point.
