Chapman leads Hong Kong to comfortable win

Chapman’s effort also took him into the record books for the second-highest score on ODI debut behind only Desmond Haynes, who scored 148 in his maiden appearance, back in 1978 against Australia in Antigua, and made him the tenth batsman to achieve the feat.

“I didn’t actually know the statistics,” Chapman, the Man of the Match, said afterwards. “I’d heard rumours that it might have been up there, but to be second in the list is an honour, and it’s something that no one can erase, so it’s something I am very proud of.”

UAE could not get the start it would have hoped for, losing Asif Iqbal in the second over of the chase with just nine on the board. Iqbal started off on a positive note, collecting two boundaries in the first over, bowled by Tanwir Afzal. But Haseeb Amjad's fourth delivery yielded a wicket when Iqbal drove uppishly to mid-off.

Amjad Ali and Shaiman Anwar offset the early loss through a 62-run second-wicket partnership. Ali contributed just 17 runs before giving a catch to Waqas Khan, the substitute fielder, off Afzal.

Thereafter, it was all about Anwar, who top-scored with 76 off just 64 balls, hitting 12 fours along the way. He eventually perished to the sweep against Nadeem Ahmed, the left-arm spinner.

Once Anwar fell, it was always going to be hard for UAE to bounce back. It enjoyed a few brief contributions lower down, but that wasn't sufficient to get it back into the contest.

Rath, who ran through the middle order, was Hong Kong's best bowler with 3 for 22. Amjad picked up three wickets as well, but was expensive, leaking 49 runs in eight overs. Nadeem took 2 for 36 in seven, while Afzal and Aizaz Khan, the right-arm medium pacer, took a wicket apiece.

Hong Kong sits on fourth position with four points from three games, while UAE is one place below with two points from as many games. The two teams face each other again on Wednesday at the same venue.

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