India win over Hong Kong in Asia cup by 256 runs

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina hit centuries and led India to a 256-run victory against inexperienced Hong Kong in the Asia Cup on Wednesday. Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat as the Indian batsmen made a mockery of hapless Hong Kong bowling attack to make a mammoth 374 for four, the highest Asia Cup total. In reply, the Hong Kong batsmen crumbled to meagre 118 runs in the 36. 5 overs. Dhoni then featured in three stumpings behind the wickets off legspinner Piyush Chawlam, who took 4-23. "You have to be ruthless if you are contesting in international cricket no matter against which team you playing," Dhoni said. Left-arm paceman R P Singh drew the first blood in his very first over, trapping Skhawat Ali for a nought, to begin the rot. Dar and Atkinson then put up a 45-run stand for the second-wicket but once the skipper was dismissed, Hong Kong batsmen lacked confidence in negotiating the Indian attack. Rohit Sharma, coming after Sehwag’s dismissal, was the only Indian batsman to fall cheaply when he was run out by Nadeem Ahmmed on 11. Rohit’s departure brought Raina, whose blitzkrieg 101 off 68 balls is the second fastest hundred by an Indian. Sehwag then closed the Hong Kong innings with two wickets on successive deliveries as he first clean bowled Afzaal Haider and then had Nadeem Ahmed caught behind the wickets, giving Dhoni his fourth victim of the innings. Irfan Ahmed's effort of 23 runs off 43 balls was the best individual score for Hong Kong, whose bowlers struggled to contain India's strong lineup. Raina spearheaded the batting blitz with his scintillating 101-run knock and teamed up with Dhoni (unbeaten 109) to put on 166 from 123 balls, which saw India set the highest total in Asia Cup history. Raina's first hundred included seven fours and five sixes. Raina was extremely harsh on pacer Skhawat Ali who went for three sixes in one over. Sehwag hit 13 fours and two sixes. Dhoni touched the three-figure mark after consuming balls and helped himself with with six sixes and five fours to anchor the innings. India with their strong performance also warmed up in spectacular fashion for their important clash against traditional rivals, Pakistan. The Hong Kong spinners who had done an admirable job against Pakistan in their first match never recovered from an early blitz from openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. The duo put on 127 for the first wicket and plundered runs at will, scoring 95 in first 10 overs. .