India overcome Hong Kong fight to stay alive in Asia Cup

Hong Kong concede a 26-run defeat against world champion India in Group A match after a diehard chasing at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Tuesday night.

Chasing a challenging target of 286 runs, Hong Kong got off to a brilliant start with their openers Nizakat Khan (92) and skipper Anshuman Rath (72) scoring impressive half-centuries to put India on the back foot.

The duo stitched an opening stand of 174 runs -- which also became the highest first-wicket stand recorded by the associate nation in the ODI cricket.

For India, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and debutant pacer Khaleel Ahmed scalped three wickets each.

Earlier, Dhawan's century helped India post 285/7.

Dhawan played a cautious knock on top of the order, scoring 127 runs from 120 deliveries. His innings was laced with 15 boundaries and two hits over the fence.

Ambati Rayudu (60) also played a crucial knock to help India post a dominating total, after being asked to bat first by Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Kedar Jadhav (28 not out) remained unbeaten throughout the innings, helping India score crucial runs in the death overs.

For Hong Kong, Kinchit Shah was the pick of the bowlers, scalping three wickets.

India rested their key pacer Jasprit Bumrah and allrounder Hardik Pandya.

India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur, Khaleel Ahmed

Hong Kong: Anshuman Rath (capt), Aizaz Khan, Babar Hayat, Christopher Carter, Ehsan Khan, Ehsan Nawaz, Kinchit Shah, Nadeem Ahmed, Scott McKechnie, Tanwir Afzal, Nizakat Khan

Umpires: Shaun George (RSA) and Anisur Rahman (BAN)

Tv umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)