KARACHI: Young Mohammad Rizwan starred with an undefeated half-century as Pakistan warmed up for the upcoming three-match Twenty20 series against England with a comfortable 64-run victory against Hong Kong at the ICC Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai on Monday.

Opting to bat first after Shahid Afridi won the toss in the practice game, Pakistan rode on Rizwan’s 55 to collect 167-7 in the stipulated 20 overs after starting their innings on a disastrous note when Ahmed Shehzad perished for a first-ball duck to Rawalpindi-born seamer Haseeb Amjad in the second over.

Opener Riffatullah Mohmand, who is to play at the international level, hit three boundaries and one six in scoring a 19-ball 25 after playing out Hong Kong skipper Tanvir Afzal’s opening over of the match without scoring any runs.

Sohaib Maqsood slammed a brace of sixes and as many fours to make 25 off 28 balls, while the controversial Umar Akmal scored only 10 and Afridi just five.

Rizwan, who adorned his 38-ball knock with five fours and four sixes, then found a reliable partner in all-rounder Aamir Yamin (27 off 13 balls, three sixes and one four) as the pair added 50 coming together at 88-5 in the 14th over.

Anwar Ali also blasted a six and a four in an eight-ball cameo of 16 while helping Rizwan put on 29 for the seventh wicket.

Haseeb was Hong Kong’s most successful bowler with 3-38 in four overs and Anshuman Rath, an 18-year-old wicket-keeper/batsman born in Hong Kong, turned his arm over to grab 2-30 in four overs.

Tanvir, who bowled the only maiden over of the match, took 1-25 and Aizaz Khan had one for 32.

Hong Kong, who had qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 to be hosted by India next year, mustered 103 in their reply before being dismissed in 17.1 overs. Mark Chapman contributed a defiant 50 off 39 while striking five boundaries and two sixes. The only other batsmen to reach double figures were Rath (18) and Waqas Khan (10).

Off-spinner Bilal Asif claimed two wickets for 13 runs in three overs and Afridi picked up 2-21, also in three overs with Sohail Tanvir (1-8 in 2 overs), Aamir Yamin (1-29 in 4) and Imran Khan Jr (1-21 in 3.1) sharing the remaining wickets falling to bowlers.

England, meanwhile, were scheduled to take on United Arab Emirates in a warm-up fixture at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium later on Monday.

The first Twenty20 International will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, followed by the second at the same venue on Friday before the third and final fixture in Sharjah next Monday.

Summarised scores:

PAKISTAN 167-7 in 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 55 not out, Aamir Yamin 27, Riffatullah Mohmand 25, Sohaib Maqsood 25, Anwar Ali 16; Haseeb Amjad 3-38, Anshuman Rath 2-30; HONG KONG 103 in 17.1 overs (M.S. Chapman 50, Anshuman Rath 18; Bilal Asif 2-13, Shahid Afridi 2-21).

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2015