“A few crucial mistakes, including dropped catches and a no-ball, proved costly for Hong Kong in the end.”
Hong Kong batted first and put up a fighting total of 149/4. Nizakat Khan led with an unbeaten 52 off 38 balls. Anshuman Rath added 48, and Zeeshan Ali contributed 23. Sri Lanka’s bowlers faced a tough challenge. Dushmantha Chameera took 2/29, while Wanindu Hasaranga picked crucial wickets at key moments.
Sri Lanka replied strongly with opener Pathum Nissanka scoring 68 off 44 balls. He combined patience with aggression to keep the chase on track. However, the middle order collapsed, leaving Sri Lanka at 127/6. Hong Kong briefly looked capable of pulling off a famous upset.
In the final overs, Wanindu Hasaranga hit 20 not out off 9 balls. His boundaries guided Sri Lanka to 153/6 in 18.5 overs. Hong Kong fought well, but a few dropped catches and a costly no-ball cost them. The match showed Sri Lanka’s resilience and highlighted Hong Kong’s potential to challenge top teams.