Litton Das Shines as Bangladesh Beat Hong Kong by Seven Wickets in Asia Cup 2025

The third match of Group B at the Men’s T20 Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi saw Hong Kong put up a gritty fight to post 143/7 in their 20 overs against a tough Bangladesh bowling unit. The match turned out to be one-sided.

Hong Kong Innings

Hong Kong’s start was anything but smooth. Facing Bangladesh’s disciplined attack, they lost opener Anshy Rath early, nicking one to keeper Litton Das off Taskin Ahmed for just 4 runs off 5 balls in the second over. At 7/1, the pressure was on. Babar Hayat walked in to join Zeeshan Ali, and for a moment, it looked like they might steady the ship. Hayat showed some spark, smashing a six in his 14 off 12 balls, but his stay ended abruptly when Tanzim Hasan Sakib sent his stumps flying in the fifth over. At 30/2, Hong Kong were in a hole, and it was clear they needed to dig in to avoid a collapse.

Bangladesh won the Toss and decided to Bowl First

Bangladesh 🆚 Hong Kong, China | Match 3 | Asia Cup 2025

11 September 2025 | 8:30 PM | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi#Bangladesh #TheTigers #BCB #Cricket #AsiaCup #Cricket #TigersForever #AsiaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/Ff5a4Uvr2V

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 11, 2025

Zeeshan Ali stepped up as the anchor, playing a calm and collected knock of 30 off 34 balls. He found the boundary three times and cleared it once with a six, focusing on rotating the strike while keeping the scoreboard ticking. His steady approach guided Hong Kong through the powerplay, which ended at a modest 51/2 after 6 overs. Zeeshan and Nizakat Khan started to build a partnership that promised stability, but just as they were finding rhythm, Zeeshan got caught by Mustafizur Rahman off Tanzim’s bowling in the 12th over. His exit at 71/3 left Hong Kong needing someone to take charge.

That someone was Nizakat Khan. The experienced batter played a captain’s knock, scoring a crucial 42 off 40 balls with two fours and a six. He mixed caution with clever shot-making, picking gaps against the spinners and keeping the runs flowing. Nizakat found a great partner in skipper Yasim Murtaza, who came in at No. 5 and played with real intent. Yasim’s 28 off 19 balls, packed with two fours and two sixes, gave Hong Kong the boost they needed. Their 46-run stand for the fourth wicket pushed Hong Kong past 100 in the 17th over, setting the stage for a potential late surge. But just when it looked like they could kick on, Yasim was run out thanks to sharp work from Rishad Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman, leaving Hong Kong at 117/4.

The final three overs were a nightmare for Hong Kong. Nizakat fell in the 19th over, caught off Rishad Hossain’s bowling, ending his fighting knock. Kinchit Shah lasted just one ball, trapped lbw for a golden duck by Rishad, and suddenly Hong Kong were 134/6. Aizaz Khan, who could’ve provided some late fireworks, managed only 5 off 6 before holing out to Taskin Ahmed. With wickets tumbling, Hong Kong couldn’t capitalize on the platform Nizakat and Yasim had built. Kalhan Challu (4* off 3) and Ehsan Khan (2* off 2) limped them to 143/7 by the end of the 20 overs.

Innings Break | Bangladesh Need 144 Runs to Win | Bangladesh 🆚 Hong Kong, China | Match 3 | Asia Cup 2025

11 September 2025 | 8:30 PM | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi#Bangladesh #TheTigers #BCB #Cricket #AsiaCup #Cricket #TigersForever #AsiaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/XGlTH15zo0

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 11, 2025

Bangladesh’s bowlers deserve credit for keeping things tight. Tanzim Hasan Sakib was excellent, taking 2 wickets for 21 runs in his 4 overs, while Rishad Hossain matched him with 2 for 31. Taskin Ahmed grabbed 2 wickets too, but went for 38 runs, a bit on the expensive side. Mustafizur Rahman and Mahedi Hasan bowled tidily, with economies of 5.50 and 7.00, respectively, making sure Hong Kong couldn’t cut loose in the death overs. Extras added 14 runs to Hong Kong’s total, including 9 wides, which gave them a slight cushion. Despite the late wobble, Hong Kong showed heart, with Nizakat and Yasim ensuring they had something to defend, even if the total felt a touch short on a decent batting track.

Bangladesh Innings

Chasing 144, Bangladesh made light work of the target, reaching 144/3 in just 17.4 overs to seal a seven-wicket win in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup Group B clash on September 11, 2025, in Abu Dhabi. A brilliant half-century from captain Litton Das, backed by a steady knock from Towhid Hridoy, saw Bangladesh cruise home with 14 balls to spare. They took advantage of Hong Kong’s modest total and some wayward bowling to wrap up the game in style.

Half-century for Litton Das! Timing, elegance, and control. pic.twitter.com/2EwyyxxY70

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 11, 2025

The chase kicked off with openers Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan looking to get off to a flyer. Parvez started aggressively, smashing two fours and a six in his 19 off 14 balls, but his cameo ended in the third over when he was caught by Babar Hayat off Ayush Shukla. Tanzid, playing a more cautious role, scored 14 off 18 with a single four, trying to build the innings. But he fell in the sixth over, caught by Nizakat Khan off Ateeq Iqbal, leaving Bangladesh at 47/2. The powerplay yielded 51 runs, but losing two wickets meant they needed someone to take control.

That’s where Litton Das came in. The Bangladesh skipper played a match-defining knock of 59 off 39 balls, blending aggression and composure in a textbook T20 chase. With six fours and a six, he kept his strike rate at a brisk 151.28, tearing into Hong Kong’s spinners with sharp footwork. Towhid Hridoy joined him, and the pair put on a match-winning 95-run stand for the third wicket. Hridoy played the perfect supporting role, finishing unbeaten on 35 off 36 balls with one four, rotating the strike while letting Litton dominate.

By the drinks break at 10 overs, Bangladesh were sitting pretty at 74/2, with Litton and Hridoy in complete control. A tense moment came in the 11th over when Hong Kong reviewed a call for Litton’s wicket, but it didn’t go their way, and Litton carried on. The third-wicket partnership hit 50 runs in 44 balls, and Litton brought up his fifty off 33 balls with five fours and a six. Bangladesh crossed 100 in the 13th over, and with the required rate well under control, the chase was all but done.

Hong Kong’s bowlers couldn’t find a way to fight back. Ateeq Iqbal was the pick, snaring 2 wickets for just 14 runs in 3.4 overs, including Litton’s scalp. But the rest struggled. Ayush Shukla leaked 32 runs in 3 overs, and Yasim Murtaza went for 39 in his 4. Aizaz Khan was economical, giving away just 14 runs in 3 overs, but couldn’t find a breakthrough. Ehsan Khan and Kinchit Shah also failed to trouble the batters, as Bangladesh handled the spin with ease.

Composed chase! Bangladesh sealed victory by 7 wickets. ✅ Bangladesh 🆚 Hong Kong, China | Match 3 | Asia Cup 2025

11 September 2025 | 8:30 PM | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi#Bangladesh #TheTigers #BCB #Cricket #AsiaCup #Cricket #TigersForever #AsiaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/jzyd6GuClT

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 11, 2025

Litton fell in the 17th over, bowled by Ateeq Iqbal, with just 2 runs needed. His 59 earned him the Player of the Match award. Hridoy did not stay out on 35, and Jaker Ali faced just one ball to hit the winning runs. Hong Kong’s 17 extras, including 9 wides and 2 no-balls, didn’t help their cause. Bangladesh’s chase was smooth, keeping a run rate of 8.15 throughout. Once Litton and Hridoy got going, the result was never in doubt, and Hong Kong’s failure to take wickets in the middle overs let the game slip away. The win gave Bangladesh 2 points and a net run rate of 1.001, slotting them second in Group B behind Afghanistan.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Nizakat Khan was the heart of Hong Kong’s innings, delivering a gritty 42 off 40 balls to help them reach 143/7 against a strong Bangladesh attack. Coming in after early blows of Anshy Rath’s 4 and Babar Hayat’s 14, Nizakat played with a cool head, mixing solid defense with smart shots, including two fours and a six. His 65-minute knock held the innings together, especially after Zeeshan Ali’s steady 30.

Nizakat Khan shines with a solid 42-run knock against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup! 💪🏏

📸 Getty #AsiaCup2025 #NizakatKhan #HKvBAN #CricketAction pic.twitter.com/lFlbmiaAkA

— wicketbuzz (@wicketbuzz) September 11, 2025

Nizakat’s partnership with Yasim Murtaza, who blasted 28, pushed Hong Kong past 100 and kept them in the fight. Even when he fell in the 18.5th over, caught off Rishad Hossain, Nizakat had given his team a shot at defending their total. Despite a late collapse, losing three wickets for nine runs, his effort stood out as the TCNI Magic Moment of the Game for its grit and impact.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Litton Das was the star of the show for Bangladesh, guiding them to a comfortable seven-wicket win with a brilliant 59 off 39 balls. The captain’s knock, with six fours and a six, had a strike rate of 151.28, showing his class in chasing 144. Batting for 67 minutes, Litton’s mix of aggression and control, especially against the spinners, was key.

Classy and composed – a treat to watch at the crease. 👏 pic.twitter.com/HzLMouD0hH

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 11, 2025

His 95-run stand with Towhid Hridoy (35 not out) turned the game after early wickets. Facing a tidy attack, including Ateeq Iqbal’s 2/14, Litton kept Bangladesh ahead of the 8.15 run rate, sealing the chase with 2.2 overs to spare. His match-defining effort earned him the TCNI Hero of the Day award.