Afridi blitz helps Pakistan beat India by four wickets

Pakistan defeated India by four wickets in the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 clash at Mission Road Ground, Mong Kok, after chasing down 89 in just 3.5 overs. The defining moment came in the first over of the chase when Pakistan captain Abbas Afridi took 30 runs off Krunal Pandya, hitting five consecutive sixes. That assault immediately put India on the back foot and changed the tempo of the match. Khawaja Nafay continued the attack in the next over, striking two sixes and two fours off T Natarajan, while Afridi also hit a four. The opening pair added 59 runs in only two overs, leaving Pakistan with a straightforward finish. Shashank Singh dismissed Afridi for 35 off eight balls on the first ball of his over, but Nafay kept the momentum going and made 41 off 12 before falling to Rahul Tewatia. Pakistan reached the target with four wickets in hand and plenty of overs to spare. India's bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs, especially in the early overs. In the six-a-side format, a small target can still become difficult if early wickets do not fall, but Pakistan made sure they stayed well ahead of the required rate. India's batting effort was built around Shashank Singh, who struck 40 off 11 balls with five sixes and two fours. Apart from him, the innings never gained real momentum. Captain Krunal Pandya was dismissed for a golden duck and later conceded 30 in his first over. Nitish Rana made 19 off 14 before retiring out, Rahul Tripathi scored nine off five, and Rahul Tewatia also fell for a golden duck. Earlier in the day, Pakistan had been stunned by the United Arab Emirates, who won by one wicket after Khalid Shah smashed 71 off 20 balls to chase down 107. That result served as a warning for Pakistan, and they responded against India with a much more aggressive approach. India are now scheduled to face the UAE on Saturday, with a chance to reach the semi-finals. The match underlined how quickly individual performances can decide a six-a-side contest. Afridi's five sixes and Shashank's five sixes were the two most striking innings of the game, but Pakistan's collective aggression proved more effective. India will need to recover quickly, find early wickets with the ball, and show greater consistency with the bat in their next match.