Litton helps Tigers to convincing win over Hong Kong

Skipper Litton Das struck a fluent half-century and reached a personal milestone as Bangladesh began their Asia Cup T20 campaign with a commanding seven-wicket win over Hong Kong at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Chasing 144, Litton anchored the innings with a fluent 39-ball 59, laced with six fours and a six, before being bowled with just two runs required for the win. Litton's knock -- his 15th T20I fifty -- laid the foundation for victory and also saw him overtake Mahmudullah Riyad to become Bangladesh's second-highest run-scorer in T20Is. Litton, now with 2,496 runs in 111 matches, sits behind only Shakib Al Hasan (2,551).

Bangladesh did not have the smoothest start to their chase. Both openers fell inside the Powerplay, leaving the Tigers at 51-2 after six overs. Parvez Hossain Emon provided a brisk 19 off 14 before holing out, while Tanzid Tamim laboured for his 14 off 18 before succumbing in the final over of the Powerplay. From there, Litton and Towhid Hridoy steadied the innings with a 95-run third-wicket stand. The duo started slowly but Litton picked up the pace after getting set and firmly brought the game within Bangladesh's grasp. Hridoy, scratchy throughout, finished unbeaten on 35 off 36 balls but struck the winning runs with 14 balls to spare.

Earlier, the bowlers ensured Bangladesh had a modest target to chase. Tanzim Hasan Sakib impressed with figures of 2-21, while Taskin Ahmed took 2-38. Mustafizur Rahman applied the squeeze, and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain struck late blows to finish with 2-31.

Rishad's double-wicket burst also carried historic weight. The 22-year-old became the sixth Bangladeshi bowler to claim 50 T20I wickets, joining Shakib (149), Mustafizur (142), Taskin (96), Shoriful Islam (58), and Mahedi Hasan (57). His scalps included Hong Kong's top scorer Nizakat Khan, who struck 42 off 40, and Kinchit Shah (0), dismissed first ball. Having taken those wickets off consecutive deliveries, Rishad will have a chance to complete a hat-trick with the first ball of his next outing.

For Hong Kong, Zeeshan Ali (30 off 34) and skipper Yasim Murtaza (28 off 19) offered resistance, but their cautious approach meant they could only reach 143-7.

Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka at the same venue tomorrow. 

Tigers lose both openers in Powerplay 

Bangladesh opener Parvez Emon and Tanzid Tamim got dismissed inside the Powerplay as the Tigers were 51-2 after six overs while chasing 143-7, with skipper Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy in the middle, in their Asia Cup opener against Hong Kong at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. 

Emon got off to a riveting start as he raced off to 19 off 14 balls before he was held out at deep-midwicket in the third over, giving seamer Ayush Shukla his first wicket. His partner Tanzid struggled to get going and managed to put away a solitary four in his 18-ball 14-run knock before succumbing to a soft dismissal in the final over of the Powerplay. Seamer Ateeq Iqbal got his reward for some smart bowling which saw him offer wily lengths at gentle pace to the batters.   

Tigers restrict Hong Kong to 143-7 

Tanzim Sakib impressed as Bangladesh restricted Hong Kong to 143-7 after putting them into bat in their Asia Cup opener at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. 

Sakib returned figures of 2-21 and his pace partner Taskin Ahmed picked up as many though he was expensive (2-38); Mustafizur Rahman was economical and Rishad Hossain (2-31) scalped two late in the innings as Hong Kong held on to post a competitive total, thanks to conservative knocks from Zeeshan Ali (30 runs off 34 balls), Nizakat Khan (42 runs off 40 balls), and Yasim Murtaza (28 runs off 19 balls).

Hong Kong consolidate with slow and steady approach

Opener Zeeshan Ali and middle-order batter Nizakat Khan put together a 41-run stand after being pegged back by the loss of two early wickets in the Powerplay as Hong Kong consolidated eyeing a competitive total in their Asia Cup opener against Bangladesh at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. 

Zeeshan, who struggled to get going initially, managed to make some ground thanks to three fours and a six in a 34-ball 30 before he became Tanzim Hasan Sakib's second scalp. But Nizakat continued to play a steady hand, remaining unbeaten on 21 off 27 balls, with skipper Yasim Murtaza upping the ante with an unbeaten 13-ball 21 as Hong Kong managed to gather 101 runs for the loss of three wickets after the end of the 15th over. 

Taskin, Tanzim strike to peg back Hong Kong in Powerplay 

Pacers shone with the new ball for Bangladesh as Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Sakib scalped one wicket each to reduce Hong Kong to 43-2 after the end of the Powerplay in their Asia Cup opener at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. 

Taskin nicked off opener Ansuhman Rath cheaply (4 runs off five balls) in only the second over, while Tanzim castled Babar Hayat (14 runs off 12 balls) straight after being hit for a six in the fifth over. Zeeshan Ali (five runs off 16 balls) and Nizakat Khan (four runs off four balls) remained uneaten in the middle. 

Tigers to bowl first against Hong Kong 

Bangladesh skipper Litton Das won the toss and opted to bowl in their Asia Cup T20 opener against Hong Kong at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. 

The Tigers went with three pacers and two spinners. Taskin Ahmed leads the pace attack alongside Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzim Sakib, while leg-spinner Rishad Hossain plays with off-spinner Mahedi Hasan. 

Despite speculations regarding his inclusion, Towhid Hridoy retains his spot in Bangladesh's middle-order, meaning Saif Hassan is left out. 

Meanwhile, Hong Kong, who received a 94-run hammering at the hands of Afghanistan on Tuesday, are unchanged. 

Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (capt & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Hong Kong XI: Zeeshan Ali (wk), Anshy Rath, Babar Hayat, Nizakat Khan, Kalhan Challu, Kinchit Shah, Yasim Murtaza (capt), Aizaz Khan, Ayush Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan