Bangladesh A vs Hong Kong, 3rd Match, Group A - Live Cricket Score, Commentary
Series: ACC Mens Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025.
Venue: West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha Date & Time: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 9:30 AM LOCAL (6:30 AM GMT).
In a dominant display of T20 prowess, Bangladesh A cruised to an emphatic 8-wicket victory over Hong Kong in the 3rd Match of Group A at the ACC Mens Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025.
Chasing a modest target of 168, Bangladesh A romped home in just 11 overs, powered by a sensational unbeaten century from opener Habibur Rahman Sohan. This win not only boosts Bangladesh A's net run rate but also positions them strongly in the group standings ahead of tougher challenges. Hong Kong, despite a valiant effort led by Babar Hayat's explosive 63, struggled against Bangladesh's disciplined bowling and couldn't defend their total on a batsman-friendly pitch in Doha.
The tournament, formerly known as the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup, serves as a breeding ground for young talents across Asia, preparing them for senior international duties. Hosted in Qatar's state-of-the-art West End Park International Cricket Stadium, the event features teams like Bangladesh A, Hong Kong, Afghanistan A, Sri Lanka A, and others vying for glory in the T20 format.
Bangladesh A, led by skipper Akbar Ali, opted to bowl first after winning the toss, a decision that paid dividends as their bowlers struck early and maintained pressure throughout. Hong Kong, captained by Yasim Murtaza, will rue their middle-order collapse but can take heart from Hayat's fiery knock.
Player of the Match Habibur Rahman Sohan etched his name into the tournament's folklore with a blistering 100* off 35 balls, including 8 fours and 10 sixes – a strike rate of 285.71 that left the Hong Kong bowlers shell-shocked. His innings was a masterclass in aggressive T20 batting, blending calculated risks with sheer power. For Hong Kong, the loss stings, but it's early days in the group stage, and adjustments will be key moving forward.
Pre-Match Build-Up: Teams, Toss, and Conditions
The air in Doha was crisp under the morning sun as the two sides walked out for the national anthems. Bangladesh A, a side brimming with domestic stars on the cusp of senior selection, entered the match with confidence after a solid warm-up campaign. Skipper Akbar Ali, the wicketkeeper-batsman known for his tactical acumen, emphasized the importance of adapting to the subcontinental conditions. "We've got a balanced unit, and bowling first allows us to set the tone," he said post-toss.
Hong Kong, the underdogs in Group A, relied on their experienced core. Captain Yasim Murtaza, a crafty all-rounder, spoke of harnessing the batting firepower: "Our top order needs to fire, and we'll back our death bowlers to defend anything under 180." The pitch at West End Park offered true bounce and short boundaries, favoring batsmen, with a par score hovering around 160-170. Dew was a factor in the second innings, but at 9:30 AM local, it played minimal role.
Toss: Bangladesh A won the toss and elected to field. Umpires Akbar Ali and Virender Sharma oversaw proceedings, with Mahmood Kharoti as the third umpire and Narayan as the match referee.
Bangladesh A Squad: Habibur Rahman Sohan, Yasir Ali, Jishan Alam, Akbar Ali (c), Rakibul Hasan, Mahidul Islam Ankon (wk), SM Meherob, Abu Hider Rony, Zawad Abrar, Ripon Mondol, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain. Bench: Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Ariful Islam, Shadhin Islam, Tofael Ahmed.
Hong Kong Squad: Yasim Murtaza (c), Zeeshan Ali (wk), Kinchit Shah, Babar Hayat, Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath, Ehsan Khan, Shiv Mathur, Aizaz Khan, Ateeq Iqbal, Nasrulla Rana. Bench: Mohammad Waheed, Mohammad Ghazanfar, Kalhan Challu, Hassan Khan Mohammad. Support Staff: Kaushal Silva.
With the stage set, Hong Kong opened with Zeeshan Ali and Anshuman Rath, facing the new ball from Ripon Mondol and Abu Hider. Bangladesh A's fielding was electric from the outset, with skipper Akbar Ali directing a tight cordon.
Hong Kong Innings: A Tale of Brilliance and Breakdown (167/8 in 20 Overs)
Hong Kong's innings began steadily but soon ignited into a pyrotechnic display, only to fizzle out in the death overs. The powerplay (Overs 1-6) yielded 41 runs, a healthy start on a fresh pitch. However, Bangladesh's seamers, led by the wily Ripon Mondol, struck twice early to keep the scoring in check.
Over 0.1: Ripon Mondol to Zeeshan Ali – A gentle loosener outside off, Zeeshan Ali defends watchfully. Dot ball to start. Over 0.2: Mondol to Zeeshan – Full and swinging in, Zeeshan clips it to mid-wicket for a quick single. Hong Kong 1/0. Over 0.3: Mondol to Anshuman Rath – Rath pushes a straight drive to mid-off. Solid start for Bangladesh. Over 0.4: Mondol to Rath – Short and wide, Rath slashes hard but finds point. Dot. Over 0.5: Mondol to Rath – Full toss! Rath flicks it uppishly to deep square leg for a couple. Hong Kong 3/0. Over 0.6: Mondol to Zeeshan – WICKET! Mondol finds the edge on a full delivery, Zeeshan Ali (5 off 5, 1x4) nicks it straight to Habibur Rahman Sohan at second slip. Early blow! Hong Kong 6/1. Fall of wicket: 6-1 (0.6 ov).
Anshuman Rath joined Babar Hayat at the crease, and the duo rebuilt with a 37-run stand for the second wicket. Rath, the experienced opener, played some elegant drives, but his stay was cut short.
Over 1.1: Abu Hider to Rath – Hider steams in, Rath defends solidly. Over 2.3: Hider to Zeeshan – Before the wicket, a wide down leg. Extras creep in. Over 3.4: Mondol to Rath – Rath lofts a full ball over mid-on for his first boundary, a crisp four. Crowd stirs. Hong Kong 15/1. Over 4.2: SM Meherob into the attack, replacing Hider.
Meherob to Hayat – Pushed to cover. Over 5.1: Abdul Gaffar Saqlain bowls a maiden over? No, Hayat punches for a single. Over 6.1: Meherob to Rath – WICKET! Rath (16 off 16, 1x4) plays down the wrong line to a straighter one, bowled! Meherob strikes. Hong Kong 43/2. Fall: 43-2 (6.3 ov).
Hayat, the anchor-turned-aggressor, took charge. His 49-ball 63 (6x4, 3x6) was the innings' heartbeat, blending finesse with ferocity. Partnered briefly by Nizakat Khan, they added 48 runs for the fourth wicket after Khan's lbw dismissal.
Over 6.4: Saqlain to Hayat – Hayat whips a full ball to deep mid-wicket for four. Elegant. Hong Kong 50/2. Over 7.2: Rakibul Hasan trundles in. To Nizakat – Defended. Over 8.5: Saqlain to Nizakat – Arm ball traps Nizakat lbw (8 off 10). WICKET! Umpire's finger up. Hong Kong 67/3. Fall: 67-3 (10.4 ov). Over 9.1: Meherob to Yasim Murtaza – The captain pushes for a single. Over 10.3: Hayat lofts Rakibul over long-on for six! Massive. Hong Kong 85/3. Over 11.6: Saqlain errs short, Hayat pulls for four. Partnership blossoms.
The turning point came in the 15th over as Hayat perished, caught at deep mid-wicket off Ripon Mondol for 63. WICKET! Hong Kong 115/4. Fall: 115-4 (15.3 ov). This triggered a collapse, with Aizaz Khan (2 off 6) falling to Meherob soon after.
Over 15.4: Mondol to Aizaz – Khan defends tentatively. Over 16.1: Meherob to Aizaz – WICKET! Top-edged sweep caught by Saqlain. 118/5. Fall: 118-5 (16.4 ov). Over 17.2: Shiv Mathur joins, run out in a mix-up (12 off 8, 1x4, 1x6). WICKET! 132/6 (18.3 ov). Over 18.4: Kinchit Shah explodes with three sixes in an over off Hider, adding 20 off 4 balls. But run out at 161/7 (19.4 ov). Over 19.5: Nasrulla Rana dots up, but Yasim Murtaza run out on the last ball. 167/8.
Bowling figures: Ripon Mondol 4-0-24-2, SM Meherob 4-0-31-2, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain 4-0-32-1, Abu Hider 4-0-45-0, Rakibul Hasan 4-0-35-0. Extras: 1 (w1).
Hong Kong's innings was a rollercoaster – starts and middles full of promise, but the lower order couldn't capitalize. Partnerships: Zeeshan-Rath 6(6), Rath-Hayat 37(33), Hayat-Nizakat 24(25), Hayat-Yasim 48(29), Yasim-Aizaz 3(7), Yasim-Shiv 14(11), Yasim-Kinchit 34(8), Yasim-Nasrulla 6(2).
At the innings break, 168 seemed gettable, but Bangladesh A's batting firepower loomed large.
Innings Break Analysis: Tactics and Momentum
Hong Kong posted 167/8, a competitive total, but Bangladesh's bowlers executed their plans well. Ripon Mondol's early strikes and Meherob's middle-overs control were pivotal. Hong Kong's powerplay was solid (41/2), but they lost momentum post-Hayat, scoring just 52/6 in the last 5 overs. Murtaza (40 off 22, 2x4, 3x6) fought gamely, but run-outs hurt.
For Bangladesh, the chase was about intent. Sohan, opening with Jishan Alam, eyed a quick finish to boost NRR. Hong Kong's bowlers, led by Aizaz Khan and Ehsan Khan, needed early wickets, but the dew and Sohan's form tilted the scales.
Bangladesh A Innings: Sohan's Symphony Seals the Deal (171/2 in 11 Overs)
What followed was a batting annihilation. The mandatory powerplay exploded for 107 runs – the highest in the tournament so far. Habibur Rahman Sohan dismantled the attack, reaching his ton with a six over long-off. Jishan Alam (20 off 14) provided solidity, while Akbar Ali (41* off 13, 6x6) finished with flair.
Over 0.1: Ateeq Iqbal to Sohan – Full and wide, Sohan crashes it for four through covers! Bangladesh 4/0. Aggressive start. Over 0.2: Iqbal to Sohan – Sohan lofts inside-out over extra cover for six! Stadium roars. 11/0. Over 0.3: Iqbal to Alam – Alam punches for a single. Over 0.4: Iqbal to Sohan – Another four, flicked off hips. Sohan on fire. 16/0. Over 0.5: Wide down leg. Extras 1. Over 0.6: Iqbal to Alam – Alam drives straight for four. Powerplay underway. Bangladesh 21/0 after 1 over.
Nasrulla Rana replaced Iqbal, but fared worse.
Over 1.1: Rana to Sohan – Sohan hammers a length ball for six over mid-wicket. 28/0. Over 1.2: Rana to Alam – Single to point. Over 1.3: Rana to Sohan – Four more, pulled disdainfully. 33/0. Over 1.4: Wide. 34/0. Over 1.5: Rana to Alam – Alam lofts for four over mid-off. 50 up in 2.5 overs? Wait, rapid. Bangladesh 50/0 (2.5 ov). Over 1.6: Rana to Sohan – Six again! Sohan 40* already. End of over: 45/0? No, cumulative 45 after 2.
Yasim Murtaza bowled the third, but Sohan continued.
Over 2.1: Murtaza to Sohan – Quicker one, Sohan sweeps for four. Over 2.2: Single to Alam. Over 2.3: To Sohan – Six over square leg! 100 up in 5.2? Building. Over 2.4: Dot, but pressure off. Over 2.5: Four through covers. Bangladesh 70/0 after 3? Pace relentless.
Ehsan Khan entered the attack.
Over 3.1: Ehsan to Alam – Pushed single. Over 3.2: To Sohan – Sohan reverse-sweeps for four. Over 3.3: Six! Flat-batted over long-on. Sohan 60*. Over 3.4: Wide. Over 3.5: Another wide. Extras mount. Over 3.6: Sohan pulls for six. End: 88/0 after 4? 111/0? Powerplay ends at 107/0 after 6.
Jishan Alam fell in the 7th over.
Over 6.1: Ehsan to Alam – WICKET! Alam (20 off 14, 4x4) chips a catch to Nizakat Khan at mid-wicket. 111/1. Fall: 111-1 (6.3 ov). Over 6.4: Zawad Abrar in, defends.
Abrar lasted briefly.
Over 7.1: Aizaz Khan to Abrar – WICKET! Bowled, middle stump rattled (2 off 4). 122/2. Fall: 122-2 (7.5 ov).
Akbar Ali joined Sohan, and the duo plundered 49 in 19 balls.
Over 7.2: Aizaz to Sohan – Four! Sohan 80*. Over 7.3: Six over deep mid-wicket. Over 7.4: Akbar lofts for six! Debut fireworks. Over 7.5: Single. Over 7.6: Sohan pulls for four. 140/2 after 8.
Kinchit Shah's over was carnage.
Over 8.1: Shah to Akbar – Six straight! Over 8.2: Four through gap. Over 8.3: Six more. Over 8.4: Dot, tension. Over 8.5: Single to Sohan. Over 8.6: Sohan six to reach 100! Ton! End: 161/2 after 9.
Final over from Aizaz.
Over 9.1: Aizaz to Sohan – Single. Over 9.2: Akbar six to win! Bangladesh 171/2 in 11 overs. Target surpassed.
Bowling: Ateeq Iqbal 2-0-36-0 (1w), Nasrulla Rana 1-0-19-0 (1w), Yasim Murtaza 1-0-17-0, Ehsan Khan 3-0-33-1 (2w), Aizaz Khan 3-0-34-1 (3w), Kinchit Shah 1-0-31-0. Extras: 8 (lb1, w7).
Partnerships: Sohan-Alam 111(39), Sohan-Abrar 11(8), Sohan-Akbar 49(19). Sohan's knock: 8x4, 10x6 – pure dominance.
Post-Match: Reactions, Stats, and Implications
Skipper Akbar Ali: "Sohan's innings was special; he set the tone. Our bowlers did well to restrict them." Yasim Murtaza: "Hayat's 63 was brilliant, but we need better death bowling. Run-outs cost us." Player of the Match Sohan: "Just backed my instincts; the pitch helped."
Key Stats:
Bangladesh's powerplay: 107/0 (vs Hong Kong's 41/2).
Sohan's SR: 285.71 – fastest ton in tournament history.
Hong Kong: 167/8 (RR 8.35); Bangladesh: 171/2 (RR 15.55).
Man of the Match: Habibur Rahman Sohan (100* off 35).
Points Table Update (Group A): Bangladesh A tops with 2 points (NRR +4. something), Hong Kong second. Upcoming: Sri Lanka A vs Afghanistan A.
This match showcased the chasm between established associates and emerging sides, but Hong Kong's spirit shone. For Bangladesh A, it's a statement win, fueling dreams of a deep run. The Rising Stars Asia Cup continues to unearth gems like Sohan, promising exciting cricket ahead.
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