Zimbabwe beat Hong Kong in World T20 opener

NAGPUR: Zimbabwe defeated Hong Kong by 14 runs in the opening match, first round group B game, of the sixth ICC World Twenty20 here on Tuesday.

Chasing a daunting target of 159, Hong Kong batted very well but gave up in the end against accurate bowling by Zimbabwe seamers.

Hong Kong made 144 for six with the help of a fine 53 by Jamie Atkinson, who  hit two sixes and four boundaries in his maiden T20I half-century.

Though captain Tanwir Afzal also made a bold attempt, smashing an unbeaten 31 from 17 balls with three fours and a six but could not succeed to reach the target.

Donald Tiripano, who scalped Atkinson, bowled a fine last over while Tendai Chatara, on return, took two wickets in two balls.

Both Tiripano and Chatara captured two wickets each for 27 and 28, respectively while Sikander Raza and captain Hamilton Masakadza got one each.

Earlier sent into bat, Masakadza gave a fine start to his team with an aggressive 20, hitting two boundaries and a six but then wickets started crumbling as his team lost four wickets for 62 in 7.5 overs.

However, opener Vusi Sibanda along with Malcolm Waller saved their team from total collapse adding 61 for the fifth wicket before both were dismissed quickly.

Sibanda set the game up for Zimbabwe with his maiden T20I half-century. He scored 59 from 46 balls with five fours and two sixes while Waller scored 26.

Later Elton Chigubmra played an unbeaten breezy innings of 30 off just 13 balls. He hit three consecutive sixes in the second last over to see Zimbabwe reach a competitive total.

For Hong Kong, seamers Tanwir and Aizaz Khan claimed two wickets each while slow left-arm bowler Nadeem Ahmed took one wicket.

Sibanda, after the match ended, was declared the Player of the Match.