Pakistan are through to the Plate final of the Hong Kong Sixes, where they will meet Oman on Sunday, after chasing down 107 in just 4.3 overs to beat hosts Hong Kong in the Plate semi-final at Mission Road Ground, Mong Kok, on Saturday.
Hong Kong batted first and posted 106 for 3 in their six overs, with Nizakat Khan top-scoring on 38, Anshy Rath making 37 and Nasrulla Rana adding 16.
Captain Abbas Afridi led the reply with a blistering 55 off only 13 balls, striking three fours and seven sixes. Khawaja Nafay added 34 off 10 balls, and Abdul Samad finished the chase with a rapid 17 off four deliveries.
The result keeps a trophy within reach for the six-time champions, who had already lost their grip on the main Cup after finishing second in Group C behind the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan’s title defence unravelled in their opening match on Friday, when the UAE chased down 107 off the very last ball to win by one wicket. Afridi had struck 53 as Pakistan posted 106 for 3 in their six overs, but the Emirates held their nerve to steal the game.
The Green Shirts hit back in style against India later in the day. After restricting India to 88 for 5, with Shashank Singh’s 40 off 11 balls the only real resistance, Pakistan raced to the target in just 3.5 overs to finish on 91.
But the win was not enough. The UAE then beat India as well, chasing 95 without losing a wicket in four overs to finish unbeaten at the top of the group. Under the tournament format only each group winner advances to the main Cup semi-finals, so Pakistan’s second-place finish sent them into the Plate competition instead.
Oman reached Sunday’s final by beating Sri Lanka in the other Plate semi-final, chasing 93 in 4.4 overs. For Pakistan, who beat Kuwait in last year’s final, the Plate crown is now the prize still to play for.
