Hong Kong vs Kuwait 2nd T20I Match Report Series 2026
Hong Kong vs Kuwait : The Kuwait tour of Hong Kong continued on February 26, 2026, with the hosts securing a commanding 24-run victory over Kuwait in the second T20I at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Mong Kok . With this win, Hong Kong took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series, having won the opening encounter by three wickets just a day earlier .
Kuwait won the toss and elected to field first, hoping to restrict the hosts to a chaseable total. However, Hong Kong’s batting lineup, led by a superb all-round performance, posted a formidable 171 for 9 in their 20 overs before bowling out Kuwait for 147 to seal a comprehensive victory .
Hong Kong vs Kuwait : Match Summary at a Glance
Brief Scores:
- Hong Kong: 171 for 9 in 20 overs (Yasim Murtaza 60, Zeeshan Ali 33, Babar Hayat 22; Mohammed Aslam 3 for 27, Naveenraj Rajendran 3 for 23, Anudeep Chenthamara 2 for 27)
- Kuwait: 147 for 8 in 20 overs (Meet Bhavsar 62, Clinto Anto 22, Ravija Sandaruwan 20; Asad Rasheed 3 for 26, Hassan Khan Mohammad 2 for 16, Ehsan Khan 1 for 9)
- Result: Hong Kong won by 24 runs
- Player of the Match: Yasim Murtaza (Hong Kong) for his quickfire 60 off 38 balls
- Series Result: Hong Kong lead the 4-match series 2-0
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Hong Kong’s Innings: Captain’s Knock Lifts Hosts
After being asked to bat first, Hong Kong got off to a shaky start. Opener Anshy Rath was run out for a duck in the second over, leaving the hosts at 3 for 1 . Zeeshan Ali and Babar Hayat then steadied the ship with a 54-run partnership, with Ali playing the anchor role and Hayat providing the early fireworks .
Zeeshan Ali contributed a solid 33 off 27 balls with six boundaries before falling to Mohammed Aslam . Babar Hayat smashed 22 off just 15 balls, including two sixes, before being dismissed by Naveenraj Rajendran .
The middle order struggled to build momentum, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Nizakat Khan (8), Aizaz Khan (6), and Ehsan Khan (2) all departed cheaply, leaving Hong Kong at 84 for 7 in the 12th over .
That’s when captain Yasim Murtaza took charge. Coming in at number eight, the skipper launched a stunning counterattack, smashing 60 off just 38 balls with four boundaries and three sixes . His innings, which included a 68-run partnership with Ayush Shukla (16) for the eighth wicket, propelled Hong Kong to a competitive 171 for 9 .
For Kuwait, the bowling attack was led by Naveenraj Rajendran (3 for 23) and Mohammed Aslam (3 for 27), while Anudeep Chenthamara picked up 2 for 27 .
Kuwait’s Chase: Bhavsar’s Heroics in Vain
Chasing 172 for victory, Kuwait’s innings got off to the worst possible start. Clinto Anto was dismissed for a first-ball duck off the very first delivery of the innings, caught by Yasim Murtaza off Asad Rasheed . Muhammad Umar followed soon after, caught behind off Hassan Khan Mohammad for 1 .
Usman Patel managed just 3 before being bowled by Hassan Khan Mohammad, leaving Kuwait reeling at 11 for 3 inside four overs .
Ravija Sandaruwan (20) and Mohammed Aslam (9) attempted a recovery, adding 33 runs for the fourth wicket, but both fell in quick succession . At 62 for 6 after 9.2 overs, the match seemed all but over .
Enter Meet Bhavsar. The wicketkeeper-batter produced a magnificent counterattacking innings, smashing 62 off just 54 balls with four boundaries and a six . He found able support from Yasin Patel (10) and Naveenraj Rajendran (15), adding 43 runs for the seventh wicket and 42 for the eighth .
However, with the required rate climbing, Bhavsar eventually fell in the 19th over, caught by Babar Hayat off Ehsan Khan . Kuwait finished at 147 for 8, falling 24 runs short .
Asad Rasheed was the pick of the Hong Kong bowlers with 3 for 26, while Hassan Khan Mohammad claimed 2 for 16 .
Statistical Highlights
- Yasim Murtaza’s 60: The Hong Kong captain’s innings was his third T20I fifty and came at a strike rate of 157.89 .
- Meet Bhavsar’s 62: The Kuwait wicketkeeper-batter’s knock was a lone bright spot in an otherwise disappointing chase .
- 3 for 23: Naveenraj Rajendran’s career-best figures in T20Is helped restrict Hong Kong’s middle order .
- 54-run stand: The partnership between Zeeshan Ali and Babar Hayat laid the foundation for Hong Kong’s total .
Series Context and What’s Next
The four-match T20I series between Kuwait and Hong Kong runs from February 25 to March 1, 2026, with all matches scheduled at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Mong Kok .
With Hong Kong now leading 2-0, they have already secured the series victory. The remaining two matches will be crucial for Kuwait to salvage some pride and for both teams to test their bench strength ahead of future international assignments .
The third T20I is scheduled for February 27 at the same venue .
Head-to-Head Record
Criteria Hong Kong Kuwait
- Matches Played 5 5
- Hong Kong Wins 1 –
- Kuwait Wins – 3
- No Result 1 1
Note: The head-to-head record from previous encounters shows Kuwait holding an edge , but Hong Kong’s recent performances have leveled the playing field.
Full Squads
Hong Kong Squad
Player Role
- Yasim Murtaza (c) All-rounder
- Zeeshan Ali (wk) Wicketkeeper batter
- Anshy Rath Batter
- Babar Hayat Batter
- Nizakat Khan All-rounder
- Aizaz Khan All-rounder
- Ehsan Khan Bowler
- Hassan Khan Mohammad Bowler
- Ayush Shukla Bowler
- Asad Rasheed Bowler
- Shiv Mathur Batter
Kuwait Squad
Player Role
- Yasin Patel (c) Bowler
- Usman Patel (wk) Wicketkeeper batter
- Meet Bhavsar Wicketkeeper batter
- Ravija Sandaruwan Batter
- Clinto Anto Batter
- Muhammad Umar Batter
- Mohammed Aslam All-rounder
- Bilal Tahir All-rounder
- Anudeep Chenthamara Bowler
- Naveenraj Rajendran Bowler
- Muhammad Aqif Farooq Bowler
Analysis by Best Pak Mag
This Hong Kong vs Kuwait series is proving to be a fascinating contest between two Associate nations with contrasting trajectories. Hong Kong, with their experience in multiple T20 World Cups, have shown superior composure in crunch moments, particularly in the first match where they chased down 182 with three wickets in hand .
The second T20I highlighted the depth in Hong Kong’s batting lineup. After being reduced to 84 for 7, captain Yasim Murtaza’s counterattacking 60 demonstrated the fighting spirit that has become synonymous with Hong Kong cricket . His ability to accelerate against quality bowling, combined with Ayush Shukla’s support, turned a potentially below-par total into a match-winning one .
For Kuwait, the performance of Meet Bhavsar stands out as a significant positive. His 62 off 54 balls in a losing cause showed technical solidity and temperament under pressure . If Kuwait can build partnerships around him and address the top-order fragility that has plagued them in both matches, they have the potential to compete more effectively in the remaining games .
The bowling performances have been mixed for both sides. Naveenraj Rajendran’s 3 for 23 was a career-best effort that kept Kuwait in the game during the middle overs . For Hong Kong, Asad Rasheed’s 3 for 26 and Hassan Khan Mohammad’s economical 2 for 16 demonstrated the variety in their attack .
With the series already decided, the remaining two matches offer both teams an opportunity to experiment. For Hong Kong, it’s a chance to test bench strength ahead of future tournaments. For Kuwait, it’s about building momentum and ending the tour on a positive note. Associate cricket thrives on such competitive series, and both nations will benefit from the experience .
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