Abbas puts Pakistan in Hong Kong Sixes Plate final

Skipper hits 13-ball 55 as Green-shirts chase 107 in the fifth over against Hong Kong

Captain Abbas Afridi smashed a blistering 55 as Pakistan defeated hosts Hong Kong by five wickets in the Plate semi-final of the Hong Kong Sixes on Saturday to set up a final against Oman.

Hong Kong posted 106-3 in their allotted six overs at Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok, but Pakistan chased down the target in just 4.3 overs despite losing five wickets.

Abbas led the charge with 55 off only 13 deliveries, hitting three fours and seven sixes. Khawaja Nafay added 34 from 10 balls, including two fours and four sixes, before Abdul Samad struck a rapid 17 off four deliveries to complete the chase.

Hong Kong had made a strong start after being sent in, with Nizakat Khan top-scoring with 38 off 10 balls, including one four and five sixes.

Anshy Rath contributed 37 from 15 deliveries, striking four boundaries and three sixes, while Babar Hayat made 12 off six balls.

Nasrulla Rana provided a late boost with 16 from just three deliveries, hitting one four and two sixes. Hong Kong captain Yasim Murtaza was dismissed for a duck.

Irfan Khan took two wickets for Pakistan, conceding 16 runs in his only over, while Ahmed Daniyal claimed one.

Six-time champions and defending title-holders Pakistan were knocked out of contention for the main Cup semi-finals after finishing second in Group C.

Abbas's side suffered a last-ball defeat to the United Arab Emirates in their opening match on Friday, despite posting 106-3 with the captain scoring 53.

Pakistan bounced back by beating arch-rivals India, restricting them to 88-5 before reaching 91-2 in 3.5 overs. Nafay scored 41 and Abbas contributed 35.

But the UAE secured the group’s sole Cup semi-final berth by winning both matches, including a dominant victory over India, whom they chased down for 95 without losing a wicket in four overs.