Asia Cup: Atal, Omarzai shine; Afghanistan kick off with 94-run win

Afghanistan secured a convincing 94-run victory over Hong Kong in their Asia Cup opener. The match was highlighted by impressive fifties from Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai, followed by a disciplined bowling performance.Afghanistan posted a total of 188 for six, with Atal remaining unbeaten on 73 off 52 balls and Omarzai scoring 53 off 21 balls.The Afghan bowling attack, spearheaded by Fazalhaq Farooqi with 2/16 and Gulbadin Naib with 2/8, restricted Hong Kong to 94 for nine.Hong Kong's chase faltered early as they lost four wickets during the Power Play, leaving them at 23 for four.The pressure led to two run-outs involving Nizakat Khan and Kalhan Challu.

Challu was caught short of the crease when Omarzai hit the stumps.Anshuman Rath, their opening batsman, was dismissed in the second ball of the innings, caught behind by Rahmanullah Gurbaz off Farooqi's bowling.Hong Kong's middle and lower order struggled against Afghanistan's experienced bowling lineup after the top four batsmen's early departure.Babar Hayat scored 39 off 43 balls for Hong Kong, but it wasn't enough to challenge Afghanistan's total.

Earlier, Atal and Omarzai helped Afghanistan recover from their top-order's struggle against slower deliveries.The duo adapted well to the pitch conditions, choosing their moments to attack. Atal started aggressively in the Power Play before settling into a steady rhythm.Atal reached his third T20I fifty in 41 balls. Between the 5th and 13th over, he hit only one six off Kinchit Shah's bowling.Shah's under-cutters proved challenging for the Afghan batsmen, who struggled to score against his bowling.Mohammad Nabi scored 33 off 26 balls and briefly showed aggression with a four and six against Aizaz Khan.Nabi's innings ended when he was caught by Nizakat Khan at long-off off Shah's bowling, breaking a 51-run third-wicket partnership.Afghanistan found themselves at 95 for four after 13 overs. Atal received a lifeline when Ehsan Khan dropped him at short third man off Yasim Murtaza's bowling.Atal and Omarzai then formed an 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Omarzai dominated the 19th over, hitting Ayush Shukla for three sixes and a four consecutively.Atal attacked Ateeq Iqbal's bowling with two sixes and a four in the 17th over, helping Afghanistan score 78 runs in the final five overs.Hong Kong's fielding deteriorated in the latter stages, with Omarzai also benefiting from a dropped catch.