Sharma-led India beat Hong Kong

India made three changes to their playing eleven – Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Hardik Pandya made way for Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav and One-day International debutant Khaleel Ahmed.

Hong Kong made ten changes to the eleven that last played the Indians – the Dars (Tabarak and Munir), Skhawat Ali, Jamie Atkinson, Hussain Butt, Courtney Kruger, Irfan Ahmed, Roy Lamsam, Najeeb Amar and Afzaal Haider made way for the Khans (Nizakat, Ehsan and Aizaz), Anshuman Rath (who was leading the team, and chose to field on winning the toss), Babar Hayat, Christopher Carter, Kinchit Shah, Scott McKechnie, Tanwir Afzal and Ehsan Nawaz.

The first Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 56, and lost a wicket.

Rohit, India’s skipper, scored 23 off 22 balls, which included four boundaries. Forty-six balls into the (Shar)match, he was caught by Nizakat, who was born in Attock, Pakistan. Ehsan Khan broke the 45-run stand.

India scored 50 off 9.2 overs (56 balls). Hong Kong had conceded an extra at that point.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 11^th and the 40^th over. They scored 181, and lost a wicket.

Sixteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 84 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Shikhar Dhawan, the player of the match, was batting on 45, Rayudu was batting on 15.

Dhawan’s half-century – which included eight boundaries – came off 57 balls.

The second-wicket pair put on 50 off 69 balls. While Dhawan’s contribution to the partnership was 29, Rayudu’s contribution to it was 22. Extras didn’t contribute to the partnership.

India scored 100 off 19.4 overs (118 balls). Hong Kong had conceded an extra at that point.

The second-wicket pair put on 100 off 114 balls. While Dhawan’s contribution to the partnership was 53, Rayudu’s contribution to it was 47. Extras didn’t contribute to the partnership.

India scored 150 off 27.4 overs (166 balls). Hong Kong had conceded an extra at that point.

Rayudu’s half-century – which included three boundaries and a six – came off 63 balls.

He eventually scored 60 off 70, which included the aforementioned number of boundaries, in addition to a couple of sixes. A hundred and thirty balls after Sharma’s dismissal, he was caught by the Manchester-born McKechnie. Nawaz, who was also born in Attock, broke the 116-run partnership.

Thirty-one overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 166 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. While Dhawan was batting on 80, Dinesh Karthik had scored a couple.

Dhawan’s ton – which included 13 boundaries – came off 105 balls.

India scored 200 off 36.2 overs (219 balls). Hong Kong had conceded a couple of extras at that point.

The third-wicket pair put on 50 off 49 balls. While Dhawan’s contribution to the partnership was 35, Karthik’s contribution to it was 16. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run.

Thirty-eight overs into the match, Hong Kong sought a bowling review. Dhawan was the batsman. It was struck down by Australian umpire Rod Tucker.

The third Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 41^st and the 50^th over. They scored 48, and lost five wickets.

Dhawan, whose 120-ball innings included 15 boundaries and a couple of boundaries, eventually scored 127. Sixty-eight balls after Rayudu’s dismissal, he was caught by Afzal, who was born in Gujrat, which is in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The Mumbai-born Shah broke the 79-run partnership.

Mahendra Singh, who faced three balls, D(hon)idn’t get off the mark. Half-a-dozen balls later, he was caught by McKechnie. Ehsan Khan broke the two-run stand.

Karthik, whose 38-ball innings included three boundaries, eventually scored 33. Five balls later, he was caught by the Attock-born Hayak. Shah broke the six-run stand.

India scored 250 off 42.5 overs (258 balls). Hong Kong had conceded three extras at that point.

Jadhav, whose 27-ball innings included a six, scored 28. He was unbeaten.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who faced 18 balls, scored just nine. Thirty-seven balls after Karthik’s dismissal, he was caught by Rath. Shah broke the 29-run stand.

Shardul Thakur, who faced three balls, didn’t get off the mark. Half-a-dozen balls later, he was caught by Carter. Aizaz broke the five-run stand.

Kuldeep Yadav, who didn’t face a ball, was unbeaten.

Hong Kong eventually conceded five extras. India scored 285 for the loss of seven wickets off 50 overs.

Nizakat, who bowled a wicketless over, conceded 15.

Afzal, who bowled four wicketless overs, conceded 34.

The Bahawalpur-born Nadeem Ahmed – the only member of the team that played India in 2008 – bowled 10 wicketless overs, conceding 39.

Nawaz and Aizaz bowled eight overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 50, the latter conceded 41.

Ehsan Khan, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 65. He picked up a couple of wickets.

Shah, who bowled nine overs, conceded 39. He picked up three scalps.

The first Powerplay of Hong Kong’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 56, without the loss of a wicket.

Hong Kong’s openers put on 50 off 9.2 overs (56 balls). India had conceded an extra at that point. While Nizakat’s contribution to the partnership was 38, Rath’s contribution to it was 14.

The second Powerplay of Hong Kong’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 11^th and the 40^th over. They scored 142, and lost three wickets.

Nizakat’s half-century – which included eight boundaries and a six – came off 45 balls.

Ninety-five balls into the chase, India sought a bowling review. Nizakat was the batsman. It was struck down by Bangladeshi umpire Anisur Rahman.

Sixteen overs into the chase, the first drinks break was taken. Hong Kong had scored 91 without the loss of a wicket at that point. While Nizakat was batting on 54, Rath was batting on 29.

Hong Kong’s openers put on 100 off 17.4 overs (109 balls). India had conceded nine extras at that point. While Nizakat’s contribution to the partnership was 59, Rath’s contribution to it was 32.

Rath’s half-century – which included three boundaries – came off 75 balls.

Hong Kong’s openers put on 150 off 30.3 overs (186 balls). India had conceded nine extras at that point. While Nizakat’s contribution to the partnership was 85, Rath’s contribution to it was 57.

Thirty-three overs into the chase, the second drinks break was taken. Hong Kong had scored 167 without the loss of a wicket at that point. While Nizakat was batting on 87, Rath was batting on 71.

Rath, whose 97-ball innings included four boundaries and a six, eventually scored 73. Two hundred and eight balls into the chase, he was caught by Sharma. Yadav broke the 174-run partnership.

Two hundred and seventeen balls into the chase, Hong Kong sought a batting review. Nizakat, the batsman, eventually scored 92. His 115-ball innings included a dozen boundaries, in addition to the six. It was struck down by Rahman. He was trapped leg before wicket by Khaleel, who broke the one-run stand.

Carter, who faced 11 balls, scored just three. Twenty-one balls after Rath’s dismissal, he was caught by Dhoni. Khaleel broke the 16-run stand.

The third Powerplay of Hong Kong’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the 41^st and the 50^th over. They scored 61, and lost five wickets.

Hayat, whose 20-ball innings included a boundary and a couple of sixes, scored 18. Seven balls after Carter’s dismissal, he was caught by Dhoni. Yuzvendra Chahal broke the eight-run stand.

Hong Kong scored 200 off 40.3 overs (246 balls). India had conceded 11 extras at that point.

Shah, whose 15-ball innings included a six, scored 17. Twenty-four balls after Hayat’s dismissal, he was caught by Dhawan. Chahal broke the 28-run stand.

Aizaz, who faced a ball, didn’t get off the mark. A couple of balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Chahal, who broke the one-run stand.

Although his six-ball innings included a boundary, McKechnie had no reason to be in seventh heaven – 11 balls later, he was stumped by Dhoni. Chahal broke the 12-run stand.

Hong Kong scored 250 off 48.2 overs (293 balls). India had conceded a dozen extras at that point.

Ehsan Khan, who faced 25 balls, scored 22. Sixteen balls after McKechnie’s dismissal, he was caught by Khaleel, who broke the run-a-ball stand.

Afzal, whose innings included a boundary and a six, scored a dozen. He was unbea‘ten’.

Nawaz, who faced three balls, scored a couple. He was unbeaten.

India eventually conceded 13 extras. Hong Kong, who scored 259 for the loss of eight wickets off 50 overs, lost by 26 runs.

Thakur, who bowled four wicketless overs, conceded 41.

Jadhav, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 28.

Kumar, who bowled nine wicketless overs, conceded 50.

Yadav bowled 10 overs, including two maidens. He conceded 42, picking up two wickets.

Khaleel and Chahal bowled 10 overs each, picking up three scalps apiece. While the former conceded 48, the latter conceded 46.