Afghanistan A edged past Hong Kong, China, by 24 runs in their final Group B match at the 2025 ACC Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup, keeping their semi-final hopes alive in the regional tournament for emerging talent.
Sent in to bat, Afghanistan A posted a competitive total of 140 for 6 from their 20 overs. Mohammad Ishaq anchored the innings with a top score of 38, while Rahmanullah Zadran (24), Imran Mir (20) and an unbeaten knock of 23 from Farmanullah Safi added valuable contributions in the middle order.
Hong Kong looked well-positioned during the chase, reaching 68 for 1 after 11 overs, but momentum swung sharply when leg-spinner Qais Ahmad turned the game on its head with three wickets in his first over. His breakthrough opened the floodgates as Afghanistan’s bowlers struck at regular intervals to stifle the innings.
Hong Kong finished on 116 for 9, falling short of the target despite their promising start. Qais Ahmad’s match-turning spell of 3 for 18 earned him Player of the Match honors. He was well supported by Bilal Sami (2 for 23), Faridoon Dawoodzai (2 for 21), AM Ghazanfar (1 for 10), and Farmanullah Safi (1 for 19).
With the win, Afghanistan A have claimed two victories from their three Group B matches. Their qualification for the semi-finals now depends on the result of the final group fixture between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, set to be played later tonight.
