HONG KONG: Pakistan produced a dominant performance to beat Kuwait by 44 runs to lift the Hong Kong Sixes 2025 trophy at Mong Kok’s Mission Road Ground on Sunday.
Pakistan was sent to bat first and exploded from the start. Opener Abdul Samad hit a six off Yasin Patel’s second ball in the opening, and Patel, under pressure, also walked three.
Khawaja Nafay kept the pace high by sending his first delivery for six, helping Pakistan score as many as 26 runs in the first over.
Kuwait fought back in the second over as Meet Bhavsar Khawaja dismissed Nafay for 22 off six balls, including two fours and two sixes, leaving Pakistan at 33-1 in 1.4 overs.
Captain Abbas Afridi then came to the crease and hit back-to-back sixes, putting Pakistan at 45-1.
Abdul Samad continued his aggressive form in the third over with a boundary and a six, pushing Pakistan past the 50-run mark in just 2.2 overs.
By the end of four overs, Pakistan found themselves in a commanding position at 95-1, thanks to Samad’s three consecutive sixes in the fourth over and contributions from Afridi.
Kuwait tried to hit back as Bhavsar Samad dismissed for 42 off 13 balls, including two fours and five sixes. Shahid Aziz was also dismissed for a duck, leaving Pakistan at 95-3 in 4.3 overs.
Maaz Sadaqat joined Afridi and struck a boundary to push Pakistan past 100, taking the total to 107-3.
The final over turned into a fireworks display as Afridi scored a whopping 52 off 11 deliveries, including two fours and seven sixes, to end the Pakistan innings on 136.
Chasing 136, Kuwait got off to a strong start as Adnan Idrees launched a six off Shahid Aziz’s second delivery and added another from wide.
Aziz conceded 32 runs in the first over alone, putting Pakistan under early pressure. Mohammad Shahzad struck back in the second over to dismiss Idrees for 30 off eight balls, including five sixes, to leave Kuwait at 33-1 in 1.3 overs.
Bilal Tahir contributed a six but was soon dismissed, while Bhavsar continued to score boundaries and keep Kuwait in the fight.
Maaz Sadaqat’s accurate bowling then turned the tide to claim three quick wickets, including a hat-trick threat by dismissing Mohamed Shafeeq LBW on the first ball of his third over.
Bhavsar kept Kuwait alive with crucial boundaries but Sadaqat limited the damage to 18 runs in the over, leaving Kuwait needing 44 from the final over.
Abdul Samad finished the job in the sixth over, dismissing Kuwait for 92, giving Pakistan a comprehensive 43-run victory.
