Asia Cup 2022, India vs Hong Kong as it happened: Suryakumar Yadav leads India to 40-run win

10.58 pm: India qualify to the Super Four stage with two wins in two. Arshdeep finishes with 1/44 from his four overs as Zeeshan (26 off 17) and Scott (16 off 8) remain unbeaten after impressive knocks.

India win by 40 runs

The LSG batter who had to go at a quick scoring rate went slow. The LSG bowler who had to bowl at a better economy rate conceded more than 50.

Hong Kong 140/5 after 19 overs: The end of a forgettable spell from Avesh. He’s hit for two more sixes and a four and finishes with figures of 1/53 from his four overs. Hong Kong need 53 off 6.

Hong Kong 116/5 after 17.1 overs: OUT! Bhuvi returns to the attack and strikes as substitute Bishnoi runs in from long-off and takes a good catch after a bit of a fumble. Kinchit walks back for 30 off 28.

Hong Kong 115/4 after 17 overs: Well, well... Virat Kohli comes on to have a bowl and does well to concede just six runs in the over. India are cruising now.

Hong Kong 109/4 after 16 overs: Superb over from Chahal, just three runs from it. Hong Kong now need 84 off 24.

Hong Kong 105/4 after 14.5 overs: OUT! Aizaz hits one for four but is clean bowled by Avesh off the next ball. That should boost his confidence. The right-hander walks back for 14 off 13. The new batter is Zeeshan Ali.

Hong Kong 98/3 after 14 overs: Arshdeep gets hit for four off the first ball off the over but fights back well. Hong Kong now need 95 off 36.

Hong Kong 91/3 after 13 overs: After conceding 11 runs in his first over, Avesh returns to the attack and gives away 13 in his second. Kinchit with a stunning six extra-over cover after Aizaz got a thick edge past the keeper for four.

Hong Kong 74/3 after 11.1 overs: OUT! Hayat tries to slog Jadeja but mistimes it and is caught by Avesh at short-third. The right-hander departs for 41 off 35.

Hong Kong 74/2 after 11 overs: Chahal drifts down leg and the left-handed Kinchit sweeps it into the gap for four. Nine runs from that over.

Hong Kong 65/2 after 10 overs: Jadeja mixes his length nicely, just four runs from that over. Hong Kong have slowed down since their skipper was dismissed, they have scored just 14 runs in the last four overs.

Hong Kong 61/2 after 9 overs: Another quiet over for India as Chahal concedes just three runs in his second.

Hong Kong 58/2 after 8 overs: Spin from both ends as Jadeja joins the attack too. Just four runs come from the left-arm spinner’s first over.

Hong Kong 54/2 after 7 overs: Chahal joins the attack and concedes just three singles in his first over.

Hong Kong 51/2 after 6 overs: OUT! It looked like it’s going to be a solid finish to the powerplay for Hong Kong but Jadeja has the last word. Hayat picks two fours on the leg side before skipper Nizakat drives one over cover for four. But off the free hit at the end, Jadeja produces a run-out with a direct hit from point and Nizakat has to walk back for 10 off 12. Expensive over from Arshdeep, though, 17 runs from it.

Hong Kong 34/1 after 5 overs: Babar Hayat is taking the attack to India, especially the pacers. A six and four off Avesh Khan’s first over. Top batting.

Hong Kong 22/1 after 4 overs: Babar Hayat is the new batter in. He hits a super six off Bhuvi, Jadeja comes on to bowl the 4th over, keeps things tight.

WICKET! 1.6: Yasim Murtaza 9(9) ct Avesh Khan b Arshdeep Singh And the left-arm pacer provides the early breakthrough, the short ball once again doing the trick for Indian pacers in Dubai. Caught at fine leg off a top edge. Hong Kong 12/1

Hong Kong 4/0 after 1 over: Steady over from Bhuvneshwar, he has a left-right combo to tackle here.

The run-chase is underway. Nizakat and Murtaza in the middle.

Suryakumar Yadav: “I haven’t practiced those strokes but these shots have come from the rubber ball cricket I played as a kid. The pitch was a bit sticky. I told Rohit in the dressing room that I’ll try to take the tempo up when I go in. I think it’s a good total.”

What. A. Finish. Suryakumar Yadav hits four sixes off Haroon in the last over to remain unbeaten on a memorable 68 off 26. Virat Kohli remains not-out on 59 off 44. Their partnership was of 98 runs from 45 balls. Surya turned the match on its head with his genius. This knock will be remembered for a long time alright.

India finish with 192/2

India 178/2 after 19.2 overs: FIFTY for Surya! He’s taken just 22 balls to get there and with probably the shot of the match so far. A sensational cover-drive for six.

India 166/2 after 19 overs: Shot! Kohli brings his famous wrists into play and whacks one on the leg side for six. He moves on to 59 off 44. India would want to touch 180 here.

India 153/2 after 18.1 overs: FIFTY for Virat Kohli! He gets there off 40 balls. It hasn’t been the most fluent knock but he’s hit some superb strokes and fought hard. Could prove to be significant for India in the long run.

India 153/2 after 18 overs: Surya with a four and a six either side of the pitch. Stunning shot-making from the right-hander, even as he survives a stumping shout. He’s batting on 41 off 19 now, Kohli is on 48 off 39.

India 138/2 after 17 overs: A brilliant over from off-spinner Ehsan Khan. He nails his yorkers and concedes just four runs. Not much the batters could’ve done there.

India 134/2 after 16 overs: Huge over! Kohli hits one for six over mid-wicket before Surya plays two brilliant strokes. The first one was a fine cut over short-third for four and the second a scoop over the keeper for six. He makes the most audacious shots look routine.

India 114/2 after 15 overs: Another four for Surya behind square on the leg side as there’s a misfield from the fine-leg fielder. The right-hander moves to 15 off 7.

India 107/2 after 14 overs: Back-to-back fours for Surya! The right-hander wastes little time in using one of his favourite strokes to counter the slow nature of the pitch. Smart batting.

India 94/2 after 13 overs: OUT! Rahul attempts another sweep but edges it to the keeper this time. He walks back for a forgettable 36 off 39. Kohli, meanwhile, cut loose earlier in the over with a superb slog-sweep for six. The new batter is Surya.

India 85/1 after 12 overs: Another boundary-less over. Rahul is swinging his bat finally but not connecting. Credit to Hong Kong too, they’re keeping it nice and slow with a tight line.

India 80/1 after 11 overs: Kohli steps out and hits one straight over for four. He needed that, India need a lot more of that.

India 70/1 after 10 overs: Another poor over for India, just four runs from it. Rahul is on 30 off 31 and Kohli is on 15 off 18. At the halfway stage of their innings, India are left with a lot to do.

India 66/1 after 9 overs: Rahul cuts loose with a stylish shot over mid-wicket for six. He moves on to 28 off 28. Nine runs come from Aizaz’s second over.

India 57/1 after 8 overs: Another boundary-less over for India. Left-arm spinner Murtaza joins the attack and concedes just five runs in his first over.

Vinayakk Mohanarangan: Has something critical been said at all on air about KL Rahul’s innings so far? Not sure we heard anything. This is such a bizarre approach. Forget the stats, there is absolutely no inclination to score quickly.

India 52/1 after 7 overs: Right-arm pacer Aizaz joins the attack and concedes eight runs in his first over. Rahul mistimes a pull but fortunately for him, the top edge falls far from the third-man.

India 44/1 after 6 overs: Five singles come from the last over of the powerplay as Ehsan continues to keep a tight line with a short-ish length. Kohli keen to settle in with singles as Rahul continues to struggle (he’s batting on 16 off 20).

Worth noting that KL Rahul was batting on 14 off 18 balls, with a six that came off a free hit when Rohit Sharma got out.

India 38/1 after 4.5 overs: OUT! Shukla strikes as Rohit mistimes a pull and is caught at mid-on. He hit a four off the previous ball but has to walk back for 21 off 13 now. Virat Kohli is the new batter in.

India 33/0 after 4 overs: Spin is introduced in the fourth over as Ehsan comes on to bowl some off-spin. Just five runs come from his first over.

India 28/0 after 3 overs: Big over! Rohit steps out and hits the first ball of Haroon’s second over for six before Rahul capitalises on a free hit and picks up six. The India captain finally ends the over with a cut through the ring for four.

India 6/0 after 2 overs: Ayush Shukla takes the new ball from the other end and does well to concede just a single in his first over. KL Rahul has moved to 2 off 9. There isn’t much movement or pace on display at the moment but the two right-arm quicks have kept a nice line so far.

India 5/0 after 1 over: A defensive start from Hong Kong in terms of field placing, with no slip in place. Good start from Haroon, though, just five runs come from the first over.

7.29 pm: The anthems are done and we’re ready for play. Openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, who couldn’t get going in the first game, are out in the middle. Here we go!

7.24 pm: The players and officials are making their way out and it’s time for the national anthems.

Playing XIs

India: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik (w), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh.

Hong Kong: Nizakat Khan (c), Yasim Murtaza, Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah, Aizaz Khan, Scott McKechnie (w), Zeeshan Ali, Haroon Arshad, Ehsan Khan, Ayush Shukla, Mohammad Ghazanfar.

Rohit Sharma at the toss: “We have just one change – Hardik Pandya has been rested, considering how important he is for us. Rishabh Pant replaces him.”

TOSS: Hong Kong have won the toss and opted to bowl first.

6.55 pm: The big talking point after the toss in the Pakistan match was Rishabh Pant’s exclusion from India’s playing XI. Dinesh Karthik was picked as the wicketkeeper and he did well with the gloves, taking three catches. Considering the fact that DK got to bat just one ball and remained unbeaten, it seems unlikely he will be dropped for tonight’s game. Pant may have to sit out again, unless India tweak their top order. We’re not far away from the toss now.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Asia Cup 2022 Group A clash between India and Hong Kong at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

After a thrilling win against Pakistan in their tournament opener, India will look to build momentum as they face Hong Kong in their second match in Dubai. Rohit Sharma and Co got the better of Pakistan, having lost to their rivals at the same venue during the T20 World Cup last year, thanks mainly to the all-round brilliance of Hardik Pandya and a fine spell of bowling from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Against Hong Kong, who qualified for the group stage with some impressive performances in the days leading up to this group-stage phase, India would want to put in another strong performance and book their spot in the Super Four stage.

Asia Cup: With a calm swagger, Hardik Pandya does the trick against Pakistan with his all-round show

Squads

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi.

Hong Kong: Nizakat Khan (c), Scott McKechnie (wk), Yasim Murtaza, Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah, Aizaz Khan, Zeeshan Ali, Haroon Arshad, Ehsan Khan, Mohammad Ghazanfar, Ayush Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, Mohammad Waheed, Wajid Shah, Aftab Hussain, Dhananjay Rao, Ahan Trivedi.

Here’s a look at the points tables ahead of tonight’s game: