Bahrain vs Hong Kong Prediction: Hong Kong got to an impressive start

Bahrain and Hong Kong are going head to head in the sixth game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers Final held at Mulpani Cricket Ground, Kathmandu on 31st October. Hong Kong are coming off a wonderful victory while Bahrain lost to UAE. Who will win this game?

In their initial encounter of the Asia Qualifier Final 2023, Bahrain suffered a defeat by five wickets to the UAE. Opting to bat first, Bahrain's openers struggled, both being dismissed for just six runs each. However, Sohail Ahmed contributed 28 runs, Haider Butt scored an unbeaten 59, and Junaid Aziz added 25 runs to guide their team to a total of 135 runs.

In response, the UAE's batsmen successfully chased down the target in the 19th over. Bahrain's bowlers managed to take five wickets, but it wasn't enough to contain the opposition.

Umer Toor (c), Abdul Majid Abbasi, Imran Ali Butt (wk), Sohail Ahmed, Haider Butt, Imran Anwar, Junaid Aziz, Rizwan Butt, Ali Dawood, Sathaiya Veerapathiran, Sachin Kumar.

Hong Kong began their campaign on a strong note with a convincing victory over Kuwait in the opening match. During the first innings, Martin Coetzee played a pivotal role with a match-winning performance, scoring 81 runs off 48 deliveries. He received valuable support from Nizakat Khan, who contributed 25 runs, and Babar Hayat, who added 31 to the total.

In the second innings, Aizaz Khan delivered an exceptional bowling performance, securing a three-wicket haul. Ehsan Khan and Ayush Shukla also made significant contributions, each taking two wickets. The collective effort from the bowling unit played a crucial role in restricting Kuwait to a total of 150/8.

Martin Coetzee, Nizakat Khan (c & wk), Ayush Shukla, Babar Hayat, Ehsan Khan, Aizaz Khan, Mohammad Ghazanfar, Nasrulla Rana, Anshuman Rath, Yasim Murtaza, Zeeshan Ali.

The wicket at the Mulpani Cricket Ground in Kathmandu is well-suited for bowlers, offering favorable conditions for them to excel. Batsmen can accumulate runs more easily in the initial stages of the match, but bowlers are likely to take charge in both halves. In the previous two matches held at this venue, the average first-innings total ranged from 150 to 155 runs.

Hong Kong and Bahrain have only faced each other once, during the Quadrangular Twenty20 Series in March 2023, where Hong Kong emerged victorious with a 15-run margin. In recent T20 matches, Bahrain has displayed strong performance, securing victory in three of their last five games. Conversely, Hong Kong's recent record presents a contrast, as they have suffered defeats in three out of their last five matches.

Bahrain faced a setback in their first game, while Hong Kong initiated their campaign with a win against Kuwait, providing them with a boost of confidence. Considering these factors, betting on Hong Kong to win this game seems like a favorable choice.