Anshy Rath Leads Hong Kong to Competitive Total
Hong Kong, China, secured a decisive 38-run victory over Singapore in Match 14 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Sub Regional Qualifier B at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Hong Kong posted a challenging total of 172/5 from their allotted 20 overs, anchored by a masterful performance from Anshy Rath.
Rath was the standout performer with the bat, narrowly missing a century as he struck 95 off just 56 balls. He found a reliable partner in Babar Hayat, who contributed a valuable 44 off 33 deliveries. While the pair set a strong foundation for the innings, Singapore’s bowling attack managed to keep the scoring in check during the middle overs, led by Manpreet Singh, who returned impressive figures of 3/22 from his four overs.
Ehsan Khan Destroys Singapore Chase
Faced with a target of 173, Singapore’s chase got off to a difficult start as they lost two early wickets. Despite the pressure, Manpreet Singh attempted to anchor the innings, top-scoring for his side with 69 runs off 40 balls. He received support from Surendran Chandramohan, but the momentum shifted decisively when Chandramohan was dismissed, caught by Anshy Rath off the bowling of Ehsan Khan.
Ehsan Khan proved to be the architect of Singapore’s downfall, delivering a sensational spell of 5/26 from his four overs. His ability to break key partnerships and dismantle the middle order left Singapore struggling to keep up with the required run rate. With Yasim Murtaza also providing tight support, Singapore’s resistance eventually crumbled, and they were bowled out for 134.
The victory was a clinical display of defending a total, with Ehsan Khan’s five-wicket haul earning him the Player of the Match award. The result sees Hong Kong successfully navigate a high-stakes encounter in the qualifier series, while Singapore will look to regroup after failing to chase down the target.
