Omarzai scores fastest ever 50 as Afghanistan rout Hong Kong

Thursday, 11 September 2025 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Azmatullah Omarzai scored fastest 50 by an Afghanistani in T20I cricket

Sediqullah Atal carried his bat out for 73*

Asia Cup curtain-raiser match

ABU DHABI: The 17th edition of the Asia Cup could not have asked for a better beginning with Azmatullah Omarzai notching up the fastest ever fifty by an Afghanistan batter in T20I cricket and also the quickest half-century in the T20I version of the Asia Cup.

Omarzai took just 20 balls to reach his half-century and his innings of 53 off 21 balls comprised 2 fours and 5 sixes as Afghanistan went onto complete a comprehensive win by 94 runs against Hong Kong in the curtain-raiser match played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday. He improved on the 21 balls that Mohammad Nabi took to reach his fifty against Ireland in 2017 and Gulbadin Naib against India in 2024.

After a slow beginning when Afghanistan were 95-4 off 13 overs but what followed was absolute carnage towards the end as 78 runs came from the last 5 overs, that saw Afghanistan score 188-6.

It was poor fielding on the part of Hong Kong that led to their big defeat. Opener Sediqullah Atal, who was dropped in the first over, carried his bat through the innings for 73* off 52 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes). That was not the only chance he got, there were a couple more drops and he made the most of it. He kept one end busy and accelerated once he reached fifty. But the impetus to the innings was first given by Mohammad Nabi (33 off 26 balls) then Azmatullah. The pair were the enforcers and added 50 plus partnerships with Sediqullah. Hong Kong had only themselves to blame, they were really poor in the field. They not only dropped 4 catches but there were countless fumbles as well.

Chasing a daunting total Hong Kong was never in the hunt as they were kept down to a moderate score of 94-9.

Scores: Afghanistan 188-6 (20) (Sediqullah Atal 73*, Mohammad Nabi 33, Azmatullah Omarzai 53, Ayush Shukla 2/54, Kinchit Shah 2/24)

Hong Kong 94-9 (20) (Babar Hayat 39, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2/16, Gulbadin Naib 2/8)