Suryakumar Yadav scored a swashbuckling unbeaten 68 as India defeated Hong Kong by 40 runs in Group A match in Dubai on Wednesday.
After being asked to bat first by Hong Kong skipper Nizakat Khan, openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma got India off to a steady start. The duo added 38 runs for the opening stand before the latter (21) miscued a pull off Ayush Shukla to Aizaz Khan at mid on.
Rahul and Virat Kohli added 56 runs for the second wicket before the former dragged a sweep off Mohammad Ghazanfar to wicket keeper McKechnie for 36.
The pair of Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav featured in an unbeaten 98 run stand for the third-wicket to take The Men in Blue to a mammoth total of 192/2 in their allotted 50 overs.
Kohli remained unbeaten on 59, while Suryakumar was not out on 68 off just 26 balls.
Chasing 193, Hong kong lost Yasim Murtaza (9), top-edging a pull off Arshdeep Singh to Avesh Khan at fine leg.
Nizakat Khan and Babar Hayat added 39 runs for the second wicket before the former was run out on a free hit by a brilliant throw from Ravindra Jadeja.
Jadeja then struck a vital blow by claiming the prize scalp of the dangerous Babar Hayat (41), slicing one to Avesh at point.
Kinchit Shah along with Aizaz Khan put on 31 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter was bowled by 25 year old Avesh, while attempting a slog.
Zeeshan Ali and Scott McKechnie reduced the margin of defeat by smashing 33 runs in the last two overs. In the end they finished at 152/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
With this victory, The Men in Blue booked their berth in Super 4 from Group A.