Nizakat’s Solid 42 Leads Hong Kong

ABU DHABI: In the third match of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling performance successfully kept Hong Kong to a reasonable score at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Litton Das, the skipper of Bangladesh, opted to bowl first, a choice that proved effective as his bowling attack restricted Hong Kong to 143/7 in their 20 overs.

Hong Kong’s innings began turbulently when Taskin Ahmed dismissed Anshy Rath (four), catching him behind on the third ball of the second over, with only seven runs tallied.

The associate nation faced another setback during the batting powerplay, as Tanzim Hasan Sakib bowled out Babar Hayat (14), reducing them to 30/2 in 4.4 overs.

Following these early stumbles, Nizakat Khan, a middle-order batsman, and opener Zeeshan Ali briefly stabilized the innings, adding 41 runs for the third wicket. However, Tanzim Hasan Sakib intervened, removing Ali and breaking the emerging partnership.

The wicketkeeper batter contributed a valuable 30 runs off 34 balls, hitting three boundaries and one six.

Nizakat also participated in another significant partnership, collaborating with captain Yasim Murtaza to score 46 runs for the fourth wicket.

Murtaza, the primary aggressor in this vital stand, was unfortunately run out after an energetic 28 off 19 deliveries, including two sixes and two fours.

Nizakat was eventually dismissed by Taskin in the second-to-last over. He departed after scoring a team-high 42 from 40 balls, which included two boundaries and a six.

After his exit, Hong Kong lost two more wickets and managed only nine additional runs.

For Bangladesh, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, and Rishad Hossain each secured two wickets.