HOSTS Hong Kong beat Bahrain by 15 runs in their first game of the 2023 Hong Kong Quadrangular Twenty20 Series at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok.
Needing 154 to win off their allotted 20 overs, Bahrain found themselves in trouble at 98 for five in the 13th over, with 56 still required off only 7.2 overs.
However, the last five wickets were only able to muster 40 runs between them, as Bahrain were bowled out for 138 off the first ball of the 20th over.
Earlier, batting first after Bahrain captain Sarfaraz Ali won the toss and sent them in, Hong Kong recovered from 84 for four in the 14th over to reach their eventual total of 153 for four, thanks to a rapid fifth-wicket stand of 69 runs off just 41 balls between Aizaz Khan, who smashed an unbeaten 42 off only 26 balls, and Yasim Murtaza, who remained not out with 29 off 19.
Bahrain will now play Malaysia, who earlier defeated Kuwait in the tournament’s opening match by three wickets, at the same venue today.