Daijiworld Media Network - Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Oct 31: India endured a disappointing day at the 2026 Hong Kong Sixes on Saturday, losing their final group match to the UAE before suffering a three-run defeat to England in the Bowl semifinal. Krunal Pandya's side will now face Bangladesh in the 11th-12th place playoff on Sunday.
In their final Group C match, UAE's Zahid Ali struck three early blows to reduce India to 14/3. Rahul Tripathi (24) and Krunal (15 off eight balls) offered brief resistance before T. Natarajan smashed an unbeaten 38 off 14 deliveries, including three fours and four sixes, to take India to 94/6.
The UAE made light work of the chase. Captain Khalid Shah smashed an unbeaten 52 off 14 balls, including six sixes, while Ansh Tandon remained not out on 39 off 12 deliveries. The duo hammered 25 runs in the opening over and completed the chase in just 4.2 overs without losing a wicket.
The victory took the UAE into the Cup semifinals, while India were relegated to the Bowl phase of the competition.
India's Bowl semifinal against England also went down to the wire. England posted 124/2, with Martin Andersson smashing 51 off 13 balls and Ed Barnard contributing an unbeaten 35 off 14 deliveries.
Tripathi fought back with a blistering 56 off 14 balls, including seven sixes, while Krunal added 28 off seven balls. However, India finished at 121, falling three runs short of the target.
In the other Bowl semifinal, South Africa defeated Bangladesh off the final ball. Habibur Rahman smashed 60 off 14 deliveries, including six consecutive sixes off Blake Simpson in the fourth over, which yielded 36 runs, as Bangladesh posted 129/4.
Jorich van Schalkwyk kept South Africa in the hunt with 50 off 13 balls, while Ayabulela Gqamane struck four consecutive sixes off Abu Hider.
Van Schalkwyk then sealed the victory with three sixes and a four in the final over, setting up a Bowl final against England.
The Cup final will be contested between Australia and Afghanistan.
Australia stormed into the final with a 53-run victory over the UAE. Max Bryant smashed 60 off 15 balls, while Nick Hobson contributed 53 off 11 deliveries to provide the early impetus. Chris Green and Alex Ross then picked up two wickets each.
Afghanistan secured their place in the final by defeating Scotland by 21 runs, with captain Gulbadin Naib leading from the front with an unbeaten 51 off 16 balls. Scotland's Jack Jarvis scored 54 off 17 deliveries.
Earlier, Afghanistan had chased down Oman's 121 in just 5.2 overs. Sediqullah Pacha scored an unbeaten 45 off 10 balls, while Farmanullah Safi remained not out on 37 off 11 deliveries.
Pacha smashed 22 runs off Aamir Kaleem in the fourth over and followed it up with 30 runs off Shafiq Jan in the fifth. Oman had posted 120/4, powered by Usman Ali's unbeaten 71 off 17 balls, which included 10 sixes. Oman subsequently entered the Plate semifinals.
Scotland qualified for the Cup semifinals by defeating Sri Lanka by 26 runs. Michael Leask hammered an unbeaten 70 off just 15 balls, including 10 sixes. Jasper Davidson then claimed three wickets in the fourth over to restrict Sri Lanka to 118/3.
In the Plate semifinals, Oman chased down Sri Lanka's 93 in 4.4 overs, with Zohaib Amanat scoring an unbeaten 43 off 13 balls and Usman Ali making 46 off 14 deliveries.
Pakistan defeated hosts Hong Kong, China, by six wickets in the other Plate semifinal. Captain Abbas Afridi smashed 55 off 13 balls, including seven sixes, in an opening partnership of 90 with Khawaja Nafay, who scored 34 off 10 deliveries, as Pakistan chased down the target of 107.
Oman will face Pakistan in the Plate final, while the finals and placement playoffs across the competition will be played on Sunday.