COLOMBO, 19 July 2004 -— Centuries from Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik powered Pakistan to a 173-run victory over Hong Kong in the Asia Cup Group A match here yesterday.
Younis (144) and Malik (118) tormented the inexperienced Hong Kong bowlers during a 223-run stand for the third wicket as Pakistan amassed 343-5 after electing to bat at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
The defending champions then dismissed Hong Kong for 165 after the target was revised to 339 from 47 overs due to a brief spell of rain.
Pakistan topped Group A and were joined in the Super League by Bangladesh, who had earlier beaten Hong Kong.
Pakistan lost two early wickets against Hong Kong, before Younis and Malik sent the minnows on a leather hunt.
Younis hit eight fours and three sixes in his maiden one-day century after 103 matches, while Malik’s third hundred came with the help of 10 fours and two sixes.
Their partnership was just seven runs short of Pakistan’s record stand for the third wicket of 230 by Ijaz Ahmed and Saeed Anwar in the Independence Cup tournament in Dhaka in 1998. The stand was broken after a mix-up which resulted in Malik getting run out by a direct throw from Afzaal Haider.
Younis departed in the penultimate over when he holed out to mid-wicket off Haider.
Hong Kong never seriously challenged the imposing target, with only Tabarak Dar and Manoj Cheruparambil looking comfortable in the middle.
Dar scored 36 off 43 balls with six fours while Cheruparambil got 30 off 44 with three boundaries and a six. Malik claimed four wickets to earn the man-of-the-match award. Imran Farhat bagged three wickets.
