Abbas Afridi hits five sixes in a row as Pakistan chase down India at the Hong Kong Sixes

Pakistan captain Abbas Afridi hit five consecutive sixes off Krunal Pandya to settle a Hong Kong Sixes group match against India inside a single over

Pakistan beat India by four wickets in Group C at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok on Friday, reaching 91 for 2 in 3.5 overs with 13 balls to spare after India had posted 88 for 5 from their six.

The chase never looked like a contest. Afridi, who captains the side and keeps wicket, took the first over of the innings apart, and Pakistan helped themselves to 31 runs from it before a second bowler had been used.

Afridi was named player of the match. India, beaten in their opening fixture of the tournament, must now beat the United Arab Emirates on Saturday to stay in the hunt in a group that has already produced one upset.

Shashank Singh holds India together

Asked to bat after losing the toss, India leaned almost entirely on Shashank Singh, who made 40 from 11 balls with five sixes and two fours before Ahmed Daniyal bowled him.

Rahul Tripathi went early for 9 from five balls, and Nitish Rana cleared long-on once before India's innings lost its shape in the middle overs.

T Natarajan was left unbeaten on 12 from six balls, a pair of late fours lifting the total to a figure that looked defendable only until Pakistan began their reply.

Abdul Samad strikes twice in two balls

The innings turned on a single over from Abdul Samad, who removed Rahul Tewatia and Krunal Pandya off consecutive deliveries, both for golden ducks.

Samad finished with 2-10, the most economical return of the match, and his double strike cost India the acceleration a six-over innings is built around.

India's 88 for 5 was a competitive score by the standards of the format. It was not competitive by the standards of what followed.

Thirty-one from the opening over

Khawaja Nafay took a single from the first ball of the chase, and from there Afridi faced the rest of the over. He hit five sixes in a row off Krunal Pandya, India's captain and the man expected to hold the innings together.

Pakistan were 31 without loss at the end of the first over, needing 58 from the remaining five with every wicket intact.

In a format of seven players a side and six overs, where each fielder bowls an over, conceding 31 from the first leaves almost nothing to recover with.

Nafay and Niazi finish it early

Nafay then took over, making 41 from 12 balls with five sixes and two fours before T Natarajan caught him off Rahul Tewatia, who returned 1-18 from his part-completed over.

Abdul Samad added 7 from three balls with a six of his own, and Irfan Khan Niazi ended the match with a six from the only ball he faced.

Pakistan's over-by-over returns read 31, 28, 14 and 18 — a chase completed before the halfway point of the fourth over.

Group C comes down to Saturday

Pakistan had themselves lost earlier in the day, beaten by one wicket by the United Arab Emirates, who chased 107 and reached 109 for 5 off the final ball after Pakistan made 106 for 3.

That leaves Pakistan ahead in Group C on net run rate with a win and a defeat each, and India yet to win. The 22nd edition runs to 1 November with twelve teams in four groups of three.

Group winners go into the Cup semi-finals, runners-up to the Plate and third-placed sides to the Bowl, so India's meeting with the UAE on Saturday decides which of the three brackets they enter.

Scorecard: India 88 for 5 in 6 overs (Shashank Singh 40 from 11; Abdul Samad 2-10) lost to Pakistan 91 for 2 in 3.5 overs (Khawaja Nafay 41 from 12; Rahul Tewatia 1-18) by four wickets with 13 balls remaining.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.