Nagpur : Zimbabwe relied on their experience in international cricket to tame a fighting Hong Kong by 14 runs in the opening match of the World Twenty20 Qualifiers at VCA stadium, here on Tuesday.
Invited to bat in the Group B contest, Zimbabwe posted 158 for eight and then overcame some anxious moments before managing to restrict the rivals to 144 for six. Vusimuzi Sibanda top scored with a 59-run knock that came off 46 balls with five boundaries and a six.
Down the order, Elton Chigumbura played an unbeaten cameo of 30 runs that helped the side cross the 150-run mark. Hong Kong skipper Tanwir Afzal returned impressive figures of 19 from 2 in his four overs. Young paceman Aizaz Khan (2/33) also scalped two Zimbabwe batsmen. Hong Kong made a sedate start to their chase but accelerated in the middle overs before losing quick wickets towards the fag end to fall short by 14 runs.
Later, in other decider, Afghanistan beat Scotland by 14 runs.
Brief Scores : Zimbabwe: 158 for 8 in 20 overs. (V Sibanda 59, E Chigumbura 30 not out; T Afzal 2/19)
Hong Kong: 144 for 6 in 20 overs.(J Atkinson 53, T Afzal 31 not out; D Tiripano 2/27, T Chitara 2/28).
