HONG KONG: India edged Pakistan by two runs in a rain-curtailed encounter of the Hong Kong Sixes 2025 at Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok on Friday.
Chasing a target of 87 in six overs, Pakistan were well placed at 41-1 after three overs when rain halted play. Under the DLS method, India were declared winners for having scored more runs at the same stage of their innings.
Pakistan began brightly as opener Khawaja Nafay struck Abhimanyu Mithun for an early boundary before launching two consecutive sixes, putting India under early pressure with 18 runs coming off the first over. In the next over, Maaz Sadaqat hit Stuart Binny for a six, but the veteran pacer responded by dismissing him for seven off three balls.
Abdul Samad joined Nafay but managed just a single before Nadeem’s spin in the third over saw Pakistan at 41-1 when rain interrupted play. Nafay had kept the chase alive with a four and a six in that over before the weather ended Pakistan’s hopes.
Earlier, India posted 86-4 despite a brisk start. Openers Robin Uthappa and Bharat Chipli powered to 34 runs in the first two overs, with Uthappa smashing 28 off 12 balls, including three sixes and two fours. Mohammad Shahzad, after a costly first over, struck back by removing both Uthappa and Binny, pegging India back at 46-2.
Skipper Dinesh Karthik and Chipli steadied the innings, with Chipli scoring 24 off 13 balls before falling in the penultimate over. Karthik added a six in the final over to push India to a competitive total. Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly Shahzad and Maaz Sadaqat, were instrumental in containing India’s scoring in the latter stages.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan defeated Kuwait in a last-ball thriller, driven by captain Abbas Afridi’s explosive 55 off just 12 balls, which included a stunning six sixes in one over.
