Zimbabwe relied on their experience in international cricket to tame a fighting Hong Kong by 14 runs in the opening match of the World Twenty20 qualifiers at the VCA Stadium, here on Tuesday.
Invited to bat in the Group B contest, Zimbabwe posted 158/8 and then overcame some anxious moments before managing to restrict the rivals to 144/6.
Zimbabwe opener Vusimuzi Sibanda top scored with a 59-run knock that came off 46 balls with five boundaries and a six. Down the order, Elton Chigumbura played an unbeaten cameo of 30 runs that helped the side cross the 150-run mark.
Hong Kong skipper Tanwir Afzal returned impressive figures of 2/19 in his four overs. Young paceman Aizaz Khan (2/33) also scalped two Zimbabwe batsmen.
Hong Kong made a sedate start to their chase but accelerated in the middle overs before losing quick wickets towards the fag end to fall short by 14 runs.
Hong Kong players showed a lot of heart and at one stage looked on course to score an upset win when skipper Afzal went hammer and tongs. Opener Jamie Atkinson batted extremely well by scoring 53 off 44 balls but he got out in the 17th over.
