Having been put into bat, India got off to a strong start through stand-in captain Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, but were pegged back when Sharma was caught by Nizakat Khan off the bowling of his namesake Ehsan for 23. Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu then added 116 for the second wicket, as India appeared in complete control. Both reached their half-centuries and their partnership was only ended when Rayudu, who had scored 60, including 2 sixes, was caught behind off the bowling of Ehsan Nawaz.
Dhawan was joined at the crease by Dinesh Karthik, and the Indians continued to pile on the runs. Dhawan reached his 14th ODI century and had reached 127, when he fell off the bowling of Shah, having hit 2 sixes and 15 fours.
At that point India began to lose their way a little. MS Dhoni was caught behind off the bowling of Khan for a duck, and then, in the next over, Shah accounted for Karthik for 33. Kuldeep Yadav added some late runs, scoring 28 not out, but India will feel that their final total of 285 – 7 was disappointing given the position that they had been in earlier.
In reply the Hong Kong opening pair of captain Anshy Rath and Nizakat Khan showed admirable patience and skill to blunt the Indian bowling attack. Together the pair put on 174 for the first wicket in 34 overs before Rath’s long stand at the innings came to an end, as he was caught by Sharma off the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav for 75, having hit one six and 4 fours. In the next over his partner Khan fell as well, given out lbw to Khaleel Ahmed, having scored 92, which featured one six and 12 fours.
That shifted the balance of the game back in India’s favour, and they struck again when Christopher Carter was caught behind off the bowling of Ahmed. With the required run rate creeping up, Babar Hyatt tried to inject some pace into the batting, but he was caught behind off Yuzvendra Chahal for 18. Kinchit Shah and Ehsan Khan added 28, but the greater experience of the Indiana began to show as Hong Kong wickets started to fall. Ehsan Khan was caught and bowled by Ahmed for 22, as Hong Kong eventually closed on 259 – 8, with Ahmed the best of the Indian bowlers with 3 for 48.
Dhawan was named man of the match.