Bangladesh opened their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a convincing seven-wicket win over Hong Kong, chasing down the target with 14 balls to spare. It was the perfect start for Litton Das’s side, who looked assured with both ball and bat in Abu Dhabi.
Hong Kong batted first after being sent in and managed 143/7 in their 20 overs. Their innings was built around Nizakat Khan’s 42 and Zeeshan Ali’s 30, but they struggled to maintain momentum once Bangladesh’s bowlers applied the brakes in the middle overs. Tanzim Hasan Sakib was the pick of the attack, taking 2/21 and striking early to remove the top order threats. Taskin Ahmed and Rishad Hossain chipped in with wickets and kept the run rate under control, while Bangladesh’s fielders backed them up with a sharp performance that cut off several boundaries.
Chasing 144, Bangladesh had a few early nerves when Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan fell cheaply, leaving them at 34/2. But Litton Das steadied the ship with a captain’s knock. His 59 off 39 balls combined calculated aggression with composure, and his timing against both spin and pace kept the scoreboard ticking. Towhid Hridoy played the perfect foil, anchoring the other end with an unbeaten 35 and ensuring there was no further collapse. Together they put on a match-winning stand that broke Hong Kong’s resistance.
The victory was completed in the 18th over when Hridoy flicked a boundary through midwicket, sealing the result with more than two overs left. Bangladesh’s chase was notable not just for the result but for how calm they remained after the early setbacks, reflecting a maturity that has sometimes been missing in their previous campaigns.
Litton Das’s leadership was particularly impressive. He rotated the bowlers smartly, ensuring Hong Kong’s hitters never settled, and then paced his innings to perfection. His half-century set the tone and kept Bangladesh ahead of the asking rate throughout the chase. For Hridoy, the unbeaten finish was a sign of his growing reliability in pressure situations, something Bangladesh will rely on when they face tougher opponents in the group stage.
For Hong Kong, this match was another example of their progress but also highlighted where they still need improvement. Their top order showed grit, but they could not build the kind of partnerships needed to post a more challenging score. Their bowlers started with discipline but allowed Bangladesh’s batters too many easy singles and boundary balls in the middle overs, which took the pressure off quickly.
The result gives Bangladesh a valuable early boost in Group B, improving their net run rate and building confidence before the marquee clashes to come. If they can replicate this combination of disciplined bowling and measured batting, they will be serious contenders to progress deep into the tournament. For now, this opening win was exactly the kind of statement Bangladesh needed to make at the start of their Asia Cup journey.
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