Hong Kong Sixes: Rain-affected match hands India a narrow win over Pakistan

India managed to hold off a late charge from Pakistan to win by just two runs in a rain-affected match of the Hong Kong Sixes 2025 at the Mission Road Ground on Friday.

Chasing 87, Pakistan got off to an explosive start. Opener Khawaja Nafay was aggressive from the first ball, flicking Abhimanyu Mithun’s delivery for a boundary before sending two consecutive deliveries over the boundary for sixes. Pakistan raced to 18 off the opening over, putting India immediately on the back foot.

Stuart Binny responded with a wicket in the second over, dismissing Maaz Sadaqat after he had struck a six, while Abdul Samad added a single. Nafay struggled with the next few deliveries, leaving Pakistan at 25-1 after two overs. Shahbaz Nadeem’s introduction in the third over brought more drama, conceding 16 runs as Nafay struck another boundary and six, keeping Pakistan in the hunt at 41-1.

However, rain interrupted play, and the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method came into effect. India were declared winners, having scored more at the same stage of their innings.

India’s innings had set the tone with an aggressive start. Robin Uthappa smashed a six and a four off Shahid Aziz in the first over, while Bharat Chipli joined him to take India to 34 without loss after two overs. Mohammad Shahzad soon fought back, removing Uthappa for 28 and then Binny after one boundary, reducing India to 46-2.

Captain Dinesh Karthik then steadied the innings, striking a six to bring India past the 50-run mark. Chipli and Karthik continued to pile pressure on the bowlers, taking India to 86-4 in their six overs, with Mithun and Maaz Sadaqat sharing the wickets.

Despite the narrow defeat, Pakistan’s power hitting, led by Nafay, showed their intent and provided a thrilling contest for the spectators, only for the rain to deny them a chance to complete the chase.