Bangladesh made a winning start to their Asia Cup campaign, thrashing Hong Kong by seven wickets at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Hong Kong posted a moderate 143-7, a total that Bangladesh overhauled with relative ease, reaching 144-3 in 17.3 overs.
Captain Liton Das was instrumental in the facile victory, having smashed a 39 ball-59, featuring six fours one six.
This was his third fifty plus knock in the last four matches and 15th overall, further cementing his status as the country’s top T20 batter.
Bangladesh started its chase cautiously with the pitch looking sluggish to some extent. Opener Parvez Hossain Emon who made 14 ball-19 was the first to go before Tanzid Hasan Tamim perished to a loose shot after playing a painstaking 14 off 18.
Liton also began watchfully with the Hong Kong bowlers bowling in disciplined manner. Alongside him, Towhid Hridoy struggled to make any impact as Hong Kong appeared to be on top.
However, the captain himself broke the shackle with the flurry of boundaries that quickly helped the side regain the control.
Ateeq Iqbal who scalped 2-14, broke 95-run partnership between Liton and Hriody, dismissing the former as Bangladesh were just two shy of victory.
Hridoy was not out on 35 off 36 after hitting just one boundary.
Hong Kong fared little better than the previous game as far as their batting is concerned.
Nizakat Khan who was the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s famous victory over Bangladesh in 2014 World Cup in Chattogram by taking 3-19 with his wily spin, this time came handy with batting.
He made a laborious 40 ball-42 with two fours and one six to help Hong Kong recover from early collapse and posted a moderate total.
Hong Kong suffered a 94-run defeat in the first game against Afghanistan after being all out for just 94.
Hong Kong came as underdog in this match despite winning their only game against Bangladesh in this format in 2014.
And Bangladesh justified their favourite tag impeccably with Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib giving them a torrid period in the first powerplay.
Their joint-venture left Hong Kong 30-2 in fifth over before captain Yasim Murtaza and Zeeshan Ali shared a slow-paced 41 runs.
Tanzim broke through with the wicket of Zeeshan who made 30 off 34. But with Nizakat giving him ample support, Yasim came out from the shell to launch a spectacular attack on Bangladesh bowlers.
He was, however, trapped run out before making more carnage. Yasim smashed 28 off 19 with two fours and two sixes.
Bangladesh bowlers then stifled Hong Kong batters but Nizakat guided lower order to take the side past 140.
Taskin, Tanzim and Rishad Hossain took two wickets apiece for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka on Saturday to make a giant leap toward the Super 4 phase.
