Afghanistan Clinches First Hong Kong Sixes Title with Victory Over Australia

Mong Kok, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : Afghanistan has made history by winning its first Hong Kong Sixes title, defeating Australia by four wickets in a thrilling final held at Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok. The match took place on November 1, 2026, where Afghanistan successfully chased down Australia’s score of 115 runs in just 5.1 overs.

Under the leadership of Gulbadin Naib, Afghanistan became the eighth nation to lift this prestigious trophy, joining the ranks of previous champions including Pakistan, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Australia, and the West Indies.

Australia batted first, finishing their six overs with a total of 115 for 4. Max Bryant was the standout performer, scoring a rapid 44 runs off just 14 balls. Alex Ross contributed an unbeaten 29 runs, while Nick Hobson added 23 runs to set a competitive target. Afghanistan’s Karim Janat and Nangalai Kharoote each took one wicket.

However, Afghanistan’s response was swift and decisive. They reached 119 for 2 with five balls to spare. Imran Mir was instrumental in the chase, smashing an impressive 53 runs off only 14 deliveries, including seven sixes and two fours. Farmanullah Safi also played a key role, scoring 26 runs off just seven balls with four sixes, while captain Gulbadin Naib chipped in with 17 runs from six balls.

Afghanistan’s journey to the final began with a three-wicket victory over South Africa in their opening Group A match, successfully chasing down a target of 108 runs. They followed this with a four-wicket win against Oman, restricting them to 120 runs and completing the chase in just 5.2 overs.

In the semifinals, Afghanistan defeated Scotland by 21 runs, scoring 121 runs and limiting Scotland to 100. With this victory in the final, Afghanistan completed a remarkable tournament run, remaining unbeaten throughout the competition.