Asia Cup

At Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, July 18, 2004. Pakistan won by 173 runs (D/L method).

Pakistan 6 pts. Toss: Pakistan. One-day international debuts: Nadeem Ahmed, Nasir Hameed. Pakistan hammered Hong Kong in an inevitably one-sided contest. Shoaib Malik repaid the confidence shown in his elevation to No. 3 with a brisk hundred, and Younis Khan gorged himself with 144 from 122 balls, Pakistan's second-highest one-day score. These two added 223 for the third wicket and guided Pakistan to 343, their fourth-highest one-day total. Malik also shone with the ball, snapping up four wickets with his dinky off-breaks. Rain interrupted both innings, resulting in Hong Kong's target being reduced, not very helpfully, to 339 off 47 overs.

Man of the Match: Shoaib Malik.