Asia Cup 2025: Litton Das leads Bangladesh to 7-wicket victory over Hong Kong
Hong Kong slump to second successive defeat in group stage
ABU DHABI – Bangladesh had little trouble chasing down a modest 144-run target as skipper Litton Das’s fluent half-century and disciplined bowling powered them to a seven-wicket victory over Hong Kong in the third match of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on Thursday.
The Tigers sealed the contest with 14 balls to spare, finishing on 144/3 in 17.4 overs. Leading from the front, Das struck a brisk 39-ball 59, featuring six boundaries and a six. He was ably supported by Towhid Hridoy, who remained unbeaten on 35 from 36 deliveries. The pair’s 95-run stand for the third wicket set the tone for a commanding chase before Das departed with Bangladesh just two runs away from victory.
Ateeq Iqbal provided Hong Kong’s rare bright spot, picking up 2/14 in 3.4 overs, while Ayush Shukla claimed one wicket.
Bangladesh get points on the board ✌️
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 11, 2025
Disciplined bowling in the first essay followed by a composed & calculated chase see ???????? open their account without any fuss. ????#BANvHK #DPWorldAsiaCup2025 #ACC pic.twitter.com/xveU92OYzo
Hong Kong innings falter
Opting to field first, Bangladesh’s bowlers maintained a tight grip to restrict Hong Kong to 143/7. Taskin Ahmed struck early, dismissing Anshy Rath for four in the second over. Hong Kong slipped further when Babar Hayat was bowled by Tanzim Hasan Sakib, leaving them reeling at 30/2 inside five overs.
A recovery came through a 41-run partnership between Nizakat Khan and opener Zeeshan Ali, but Sakib once again broke the stand by removing Zeeshan for 30. Nizakat went on to anchor the innings with 42 off 40 balls, hitting two fours and a six.
Brief resistance cut short
Hong Kong skipper Yasim Murtaza injected momentum with a quickfire 28 off 19, smashing two sixes and two fours in a 46-run stand with Nizakat. However, his run-out halted the charge, and wickets tumbled in the final overs. Taskin returned to remove Nizakat in the penultimate over, as Hong Kong managed just nine runs from their last two overs.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed and Rishad Hossain shared the spoils for Bangladesh, claiming two wickets each.
Bangladesh’s steady march
The clinical victory marked a strong start for Bangladesh in their Asia Cup 2025 campaign, while Hong Kong suffered their second consecutive defeat, having lost to Afghanistan earlier in the week.