Kabul: September 10, 2025: AfghanAtalan have started off their journey at the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 with a massive win as they delivered an incredible all-round performance to beat Hong Kong, China by 94 runs.
Earlier in the evening, the skipper Rashid Khan won the coin toss and
decided that Afghanistan would bat first. They lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz (8) and
Ibrahim Zadran (1) early, but Sediqullah Atal (73*) and Mohammad Nabi (33)
shared 51 runs between them for the third wicket, before Azmatullah Omarzai
arrived and took over the stage with an outstanding knock of 53 runs off just
21 deliveries.
He reached his half-century off just 20 deliveries, which is the
quickest for Afghanistan in T20I cricket, breaking the previous records of
21-ball half-centuries of Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib. His exploits with
the bat helped Afghanistan finish the first inning with a mammoth total of
188/6 runs.
In defense, Fazal Haq Farooqi struck early and provided Afghanistan
with an early success before Azmatullah Omarzai got Zeeshan Ali chipping one in
the air to leave Hong Kong reeling at 12/2 in the second over.
AfghanAtalan kept striking at regular intervals and reduced the
opposition at 94/9 at the end of the match to win the game by 94 runs.
Sediqullah Atal won the game changer award of the match for his calm
and composed inning of 73* runs, whereas Azmatullah Omarzai bagged the rest of
the awards as he claimed both Most Sixes and the Player of the Match award, for
his all-round performance of 53 off 21 balls, a knock that included 5 sixes,
alongside his bowling figures of 1/4 off his two overs opening spell.
The match was also special for our sensational top-order batter Ibrahim
Zadran, as he completed 50 T20I matches for Afghanistan. Though this wasn’t the
best outing for him, he’s been one of our go-to batters in the format with 1300
runs at nearly 30 and 10 half-centuries to his name.
Next up, AfghanAtalan have a six-day break before their next game and
will come up against Bangladesh in their second game in the event next Tuesday,
September 16, at the same venue.