DUBAI: India booked their place in the Super Four round of the Asia Cup on Tuesday after sealing a 26-run win over Hong Kong in what was a dress rehearsal for the big clash against Pakistan.

With all eyes firmly focused on Wednesday’s last Group A fixture between the two giants at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Shikhar Dhawan scored a punishing hundred and the recalled Ambati Rayudu notched a fine half-century to steer India to 285-7 after Hong Kong chose to field.

Hong Kong then made a good feast of their reply with a record partnership for any wicket as captain Anshuman Rath (73) and Nizakat Khan, who top scored with a 115-ball 92 (12 fours and one six), put on 174 for the first wicket.

But once Rath fell at the start of the 35th over, India regrouped to take full control as Hong Kong lost eight wickets in the space of 85 runs. Young left arm paceman Khaleel Ahmed grabbed 3-48 in a promising international debut.

Earlier India, who rested K.L. Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya in anticipation of an easy game, built their total around a 116-run stand between Dhawan and Rayudu after skipper Rohit Sharma failed to capitalise on an inexperienced bowling by falling for 23.

But Dhawan was in dominant form, hitting 15 boundaries and two sixes during his 120-ball knock.

Bangladesh and Afghanis­tan are already through to Super Four and with India sending Hong Kong home, Pakistan have also reached the next phase of the competition.

Scoreboard

INDIA:

R.G. Sharma c Nizakat b E. Khan 23

S. Dhawan c Tanwir b Shah 127

Rayudu c McKechnie b E. Nawaz 60

K.D. Karthik c Babar b Shah 33

Dhoni c McKechnie b E. Khan 0

K.M. Jadhav not out 28

B. Kumar c Rath b Shah 9

S.N. Thakur c Carter b Aizaz 0

Kuldeep Yadav not out 0

EXTRAS: (LB-2, W-2, NB-1) 5

TOTAL: (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 287

FALL OF WKTS: 1-45, 2-161, 3-240, 4-242, 5-248, 6-277, 7-282.

DID NOT BAT: Khaleel Ahmed, Y.S. Chahal.

BOWLING: Tanwir Afzal 4-0-34-0; Ehsan Nawaz 8-0-50-1 (1nb, 1w); Aizaz Khan 8-0-41-1 (1w); Ehsan Khan 10-0-65-2; Nadeem Ahmed 10-0-39-0; Nizakat Khan 1-0-15-0; Shah 9-0-39-3.

HONG KONG:

Nizakat Khan lbw b Khaleel 92

Anshuman c Sharma b Kuldeep 73

Babar Hayat c Dhoni b Chahal 12

C. Carter c Dhoni b Khaleel 3

K.D. Shah c Dhawan b Chahal 17

Ehsan Khan c and b Khaleel 22

Aizaz Khan lbw b Chahal 0

McKechnie st Dhoni b Kuldeep 7

Tanwir Afzal not out 12

Ehsan Nawaz not out 2

EXTRAS: (LB-3, W-6, NB-3) 12

TOTAL: (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 259

FALL OF WKTS: 1-174, 2-175, 3-191, 4-199, 5-227, 6-227, 7-240, 8-256.

DID NOT BAT: Nadeem Ahmed.

BOWLING: Kumar 9-0-51-0 (2w); Khaleel Ahmed 10-0-48-3 (1w); Thakur 4-0-41-0 (3nb, 1w); Chahal 10-0-46-3 (1w); Kuldeep Yadav 10-2-42-2 (1w); Jadhav 7-0-28-0.

RESULT: India won by 26 runs.

UMPIRES: R.J. Tucker (Australia) and Anisur Rahman (Bangladesh).

TV UMPIRE: S. George (South Africa).

MATCH REFEREE: A.J. Pycroft (Zimbabwe).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shikhar Dhawan.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2018