India power past Hong Kong

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina blazed quick-fire hundreds to lead India to a mammoth 256-run win over Hong Kong.

Raina and Dhoni smash centuries in routine win

Asia Cup - Group B
Karachi
India 374-4 Innings Complete (M S Dhoni 109 no, S K Raina 101, V Sehwag 78, G Gambhir 51) v Hong Kong 118 (P P Chawla 4-23)
India beat Hong Kong by 256 runs Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina blazed quick-fire hundreds to lead India to a mammoth 256-run win over Hong Kong in the Asia Cup Group B encounter in Karachi. Raina smashed 101 off 68 balls to notch his maiden century while Dhoni made an unbeaten 96-ball 109 as both shared a rapid 166-run fourth wicket stand to fire India to a record Asia Cup total of 374-4. Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla then spun Hong Kong out with figures of 4-23 as the minnows were bundled out for a meagre 118 in 36.5 overs. India's run fest was instigated by some explosive early hitting from openers Gautam Gambhir (51) and Virender Sehwag (71) in a rapid opening stand of 127 inside 15 overs.

Colossal total

Rohit Sharma perished for just 11 before Raina and Dhoni took command with a fine array of strokes all around the National Stadium. Raina smashed seven fours and five sixes before he was dismissed by Afzaal Haider. Robin Uthappa (15 not out) joined Dhoni for a final cameo as the pair took India up to a colossal total. Hong Kong never stood a realistic chance of getting anywhere near their target, however there were positive contributions from opener Tabarak Dar (21) and James Atkinson (23) at the top of the order. The introduction of Chawla into the attack ensured a speedy end to proceedings, however Irfan Ahmed (25) did provide some stubborn resistance in the middle order. India meet Pakistan on Thursday to decide who tops Group B after Pakistan had beat Hong Kong by 155 runs on Tuesday.