timesofindia.indiatimes.com - Asia Cup 2022: Businessmen to delivery boys - Hong Kong cricketers shine on the big stage

Asia Cup 2022: Businessmen to delivery boys - Hong Kong cricketers shine on the big stage

Hong Kong batsman Kinchit Shah usually handles the family diamond business and he sparkled in a losing cause against India, studding an innings of 30 with two fours and a six in the T20 Asia Cup. The Mumbai-born vice-captain, who proposed to his girlfriend after the match in Dubai on Wednesday, is part of an eclectic mix of pizza delivery men and university students representing Hong Kong against Asia's cricket giants in the UAE this week. The talented band of expatriates have been on the road since June, culminating in a berth in the main draw of the six-nation Asia Cup after winning all three qualifying matches. They lost to top-ranked India by 40 runs on Wednesday, but only after a fight in their chase of 193. Their next match against Pakistan on Friday in Sharjah could be their last in the tournament, but skipper Nizakat Khan said they had been flooded with praise from loved ones in their adopted home. "We have lots of support back in Hong Kong. We have lots of messages from family and friends," said Pakistan-born Nizakat. "It's a big learning curve for us to play against India and Pakistan. We take something out of these two games and hopefully the players learn a lot."

Sachin Tendulkar to lead Indian Legends in Road Safety World Series Season 2

Raipur, Indore and Dehradun. Kanpur will host the opener and Raipur will host the two semi-finals and final. New Zealand Legends are the new team in this edition and they will join the Legends of India, Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh and England during the 22- day event played primarily to create awareness towards road safety in the country and around the globe. The Road Safety World Series (RSWS) is supported by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Ministry of Information & Technology and Youth Affairs & Sports Government of India. 27th Sports, backed by US-based 27th Investments, are the exclusive marketing rights holder of the league while Professional Management Group (PMG) is the event management partner, as per a release by the organisers.

Struggling Australia skipper Aaron Finch feeling 'really good' about batting

Aaron Finch has shrugged off his abysmal form with the bat in the leadup to the team's T20 World Cup defence, saying he has the full support of players and selectors and a big score is just around the corner. The white ball skipper, caught in the slips for one in the ODI against Zimbabwe in Townsville on Wednesday, has managed only 16 runs in his past four innings, which included a pair of ducks against Sri Lanka. Former Australia captain Kim Hughes told Australian radio this week that Finch did not deserve his place in the World Cup squad, but the 35-year-old opener said he would soon bounce back. "I know that I have the full support of the players and the coaching and selection staff, so I'm working hard on my game. It just hasn't quite flowed yet," Finch told reporters on Thursday after Australia's World Cup squad was announced.

Asia Cup 2022: Flexible Suryakumar Yadav ready to bat anywhere

Suryakumar Yadav said he is flexible enough to bat anywhere in the Indian T20 team, having turned out for the Men in Blue in various roles, including opening the innings. Suryakumar scored a scintillating 26-ball 68 not out to pave the way for India's 40-run win over Hong Kong and sail into the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup on Wednesday.

Asia Cup 2022: Interesting statistical trivia so far

Asia Cup Super 4 stage. A 40 run win against minnows Hong Kong, who are ranked 20th in the ICC T20I team rankings also meant that India finished as the toppers of Group A, with 2 wins in their two league stage matches. So far this edition of the Asia Cup, which is only the second edition of the tournament that is being played in the T20 format after the one in 2016, has produced some great cricket overall.

Watch: Virat Kohli bowls for the first time in a T20I in six years

Virat Kohli scored his first international half century in over six months on Wednesday. His 44 ball unbeaten 59 vs Hong Kong, which had one four and three sixes would have gone a long way in both silencing some of his critics and giving him a confidence boost. But what really broke the internet was the sight of Virat bowling. Captain Rohit Sharma threw the ball towards the former skipper, asking him to bowl the 17th over of the Hong Kong run chase. At that point, Hong Kong needed an improbable 84 runs in 24 balls. India's sixth bowler on the night did a rather tidy job with the ball, giving away just 6 runs in the one over he bowled. He didn't pick up a wicket, but an economy rate of 6 isn't bad at all, considering this was the first time he was bowling in a T20I match since 2016. Watch Virat Kohli bowling vs Hong Kong here:

Napoli draw with Lecce to leave AS Roma on Serie A summit, Juventus beat Spezia

AS Roma stayed top of Serie A on Wednesday after Napoli were held to a 1-1 draw by Lecce, while underwhelming Juventus beat Spezia 2-0. Napoli would have gone first on goal difference with a win over their promoted opponents at the Stadio Maradona but Lorenzo Colombo's rocket just after the half-hour mark ensured Lecce escaped Naples with a point. Luciano Spalletti's side sit third after four games, two points behind Roma and one away from second-placed Inter Milan, while Lecce are 15th after earning their second point of the campaign.

Daniil Medvedev cruises into US Open third round

After an inconsistent run-up to Flushing Meadows, Medvedev gained momentum after his straight-sets win over Stefan Kozlov in the first round on Monday and picked up where he left off against Rinderknech. "In general, I'm happy with my level in the third set," Medvedev told reporters. "At the end of the match it was getting better and better. "At the same time, a win is the most important. Try to get out as early as possible even if it is pretty late. Looking forward to the next round." Medvedev frustrated Rinderknech with his flawless shot placement and pounced on the Frenchman's serve to keep him pinned back on the baseline, while also saving all three break points he faced as he controlled the contest from the start.

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Timesofindia.indiatimes.com Sport News

Asia Cup 2022: Businessmen to delivery boys - Hong Kong cricketers shine on the big stage

Sachin Tendulkar to lead Indian Legends in Road Safety World Series Season 2

Struggling Australia skipper Aaron Finch feeling 'really good' about batting

Asia Cup 2022: Flexible Suryakumar Yadav ready to bat anywhere

Asia Cup 2022: Interesting statistical trivia so far

Watch: Virat Kohli bowls for the first time in a T20I in six years

Napoli draw with Lecce to leave AS Roma on Serie A summit, Juventus beat Spezia

Daniil Medvedev cruises into US Open third round