Azmatullah Omarzai hammered a 20-ball fifty as Afghanistan thrashed Hong Kong by 94 runs in the opening match of the men\u2019s T20 Asia Cup on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The 17th edition of the Asia Cup kicked off with the Group \u2018B\u2019 match between the two teams which have six-time Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as the other teams in their group<\/p>\n
Afghanistan elected to bat first in Abu Dhabi and posted 188-6 with opener Sediqullah Atal playing the anchor role with an unbeaten 73.<\/p>\n
His fifth-wicket partnership of 82 with Omarzai, who hit 53 off 21 balls, including two fours and five sixes, proved key for Afghanistan in the Group B fixture.<\/p>\n
Afghanistan\u2019s bowlers then combined to keep Hong Kong down to 94-9.<\/p>\n
Temperatures early on touched 40 degrees Celsius, but it was the humidity in the evening that tested the fitness of the players who took regular drinks breaks.<\/p>\n
Hong Kong bowlers struck two early blows, but Atal stood firm to put on 51 runs with veteran Mohammad Nabi, who made 33, as the two counter-attacked.<\/p>\n
Off-spinner Kinchit Shah broke the stand to dismiss Nabi but Atal raised the run-rate with Omarzai, who raised his first T20I fifty \u2014 the fastest by an Afghan batter \u2014 with three sixes and a four before his departure.<\/p>\n
Hong Kong, whose fielders dropped five catches, were never in the chase after they slipped to 22-4 inside five overs, including two run-outs.<\/p>\n
Afghanistan came into the match after being routed<\/a> by Pakistan by 75 runs in a tri-series final at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.<\/p>\n India begin their campaign in Group A on Wednesday when they face hosts United Arab Emirates in Dubai.<\/p>\n