Oman face Pakistan in Hong Kong Sixes plate final: trophy hopes collide
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Defending champions Pakistan face Oman in the Hong Kong Sixes plate final on Sunday at Mission Road Ground, Mong Kok.
- Captain Abbas Afridi smashed 55 off 13 balls as Pakistan chased 107 against Hong Kong without losing a wicket.
- Oman reached the final by chasing 93 against Sri Lanka in 4.4 overs, after Usman Ali's 71 off 17 earlier.
Oman will play Pakistan in the Hong Kong Sixes plate final on Sunday. The match is set for Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok. It will decide the plate title of the six-over tournament.
Pakistan are the defending champions. Oman are chasing the biggest win of their campaign.
What happened
Pakistan reached the final by beating Hong Kong on Saturday. Hong Kong scored 106 for 3 in their six overs. Pakistan chased the 107 target without losing a wicket.
They finished the job in just 4.3 overs.
Captain Abbas Afridi led the chase with a stunning innings. He smashed 55 runs off only 13 balls. His innings included seven sixes and three fours.
The News Pakistan reported the unbeaten fifty. It also called it a blazing fifty.
Khawaja Nafay gave him solid support in the chase. Nafay stayed unbeaten on 34 runs. The pair made the target look small.
Pakistan's batters never looked in trouble.
This was Pakistan's second Plate game of the day. They had finished second in Group C. The UAE topped the group with two wins from two games.
Pakistan sat behind them in second place. India finished third in the group.
The UAE result hurt Pakistan the most. The UAE beat India by six wickets on Saturday. They chased 97 without losing a wicket.
That win kept Pakistan out of the main final race. Only group winners reach the Cup semifinals.
Oman earned their final spot in the other semifinal. They faced Sri Lanka for a place in the decider. Sri Lanka scored 92 for 5 in their six overs.
Oman chased the 93 target in 4.4 overs. They lost just one wicket along the way.
Zohaib Amanat anchored the chase for Oman. He stayed unbeaten on 43 off 13 balls. His calm hitting took Oman home with room to spare.
Sri Lanka's bowlers could not stop the flow of runs.
Oman's batters had also shone in their group game. Usman Ali smashed an unbeaten 71 off 17 balls against Afghanistan. That innings included 10 sixes.
It was one of the knocks of the tournament.
Afghanistan chased 125 to win the game. Oman still took second place in Group D. That was enough to send them into the plate competition.
Oman also beat South Africa on the opening day. That upset showed they could trouble bigger teams. Now they stand one win from a trophy.
Why it matters
Pakistan are the defending champions of this tournament. They have won it six times before. That history brings heavy expectations every year.
Fans expect them to lift trophies in this format.
But they could not reach the main final this time. The UAE's perfect group stage pushed them aside. That left Pakistan fighting for the plate instead.
The plate is a real trophy, but it is the second prize.
Only group winners reach the Cup semifinals. Runners-up like Pakistan drop into the plate competition. Third-placed teams go into the bowl competition.
So three trophies are up for grabs on Sunday.
Sunday is about saving pride for Pakistan. A plate trophy would still end their trip on a high. Their fans back home will want a win to celebrate.
Losing out completely would hurt a six-time champion side.
Oman are the surprise package of the tournament. Few people tipped them to reach any final. They beat South Africa on the opening day.
Then they outgunned Sri Lanka in the plate semifinal. Each win has grown their belief.
Their batters can clear the ropes with ease. Ali's 10 sixes against Afghanistan proved that. Amanat's calm chase against Sri Lanka proved it again.
Oman do not fear big names in this format.
The six-over format suits aggressive teams like Oman. Each side bats for only six overs. Each team fields just six players.
One big over can change the whole match. Even a strong team can lose in minutes.
This clash is also a battle of hitting styles. Afridi attacks from the first ball he faces. His 55 off 13 balls showed pure power.
Oman spread the load across several hitters. Both approaches have worked all weekend.
What happens next
The plate final is scheduled for 2:15 PM Hong Kong time. That is 11:15 AM Pakistan time. The final had not started when this article was written.
Both teams arrived in strong form.
Earlier on Sunday, India faced Bangladesh in the 11th place playoff. That match opened the final day's program. It showed how deep the classification games run.
Pakistan will back their power hitters to fire again. Afridi is in destructive form right now. Nafay looks calm and settled at the other end.
Their openers can end a chase in five overs.
Oman will count on Ali and Amanat to keep hitting. Their chase against Sri Lanka showed real calm. They did not panic when wickets fell.
That cool head could matter in a final.
The winner takes home the plate trophy. For Pakistan, it keeps their champion record proud. For Oman, it would be a landmark result.
Either way, the sixes should fly at Mong Kok.
Later on Sunday, Australia play Afghanistan in the Cup final. Australia crushed the UAE by 53 runs in their semifinal. Afghanistan beat Scotland by 21 runs to reach the decider.
That is the main event of the day.
South Africa meet England in the bowl final. That is the third trophy on offer. Sunday is the biggest day of the tournament.
All three finals will be played back to back.
Oman's road to the final began with their plate semifinal win over Sri Lanka. That chase of 93 in 4.4 overs set the tone. Now they get their shot at the champions.
Whoever wins, the plate final promises big sixes and fast action. Pakistan want a trophy to match their champion status. Oman want to prove they belong at this level.
One of those stories will win out on Sunday.
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