An unbeaten century from Babar Hayat guided Hong Kong to an 8-wicket win over Singapore in the opening match of the ACC Premier Cup 2023 held at the Mulpani cricket ground on Tuesday.

Hayat smashed ten boundaries and 6 sixes, putting up 108 runs off 94 balls on the scoreboard.

Hong Kong Captain Nizakat Khan also cracked a half-century, smashing three boundaries and a six. Khan scored 51 runs in his 89 balls knock, before being dismissed by Aritra Dutta.

Opener Ashuman Rath managed a measly 13-ball 6, before being caught by Avi Dixit in 5.1 overs.

Elected to bat first, Singapore set a 175 runs target, losing all wickets in 42.1 overs.

Aritra Dutta top-scored for the Singaporean side, smashing nine boundaries to score 49 runs off 57 balls.

Hong Kong’s Ehsan Khan grabbed four wickets while Yasim Murtaza dismissed three Singaporean batters in their 10-over spell each, limiting Singapore to 174 runs.

Meanwhile, Malaysia have posted a 236 runs target against Nepal in another Premier Cup match being held simultaneously at the TU cricket ground in Kirtipur.

The Premier Cup will work as a qualification pathway towards the Asia Cup 2023, to be held in Pakistan in September this year.

Nepal are pitted in Group ‘A’ alongside Oman, Qatar, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Group ‘B’ consists of the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Singapore and Bahrain.

The matches will be held at TU Cricket Ground and Mulpani Cricket Ground from April 18 to May 1.