Ton-ups Dhoni, Raina help India thump Hong Kong

KARACHI (AFP) - Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina hit aggressive hundreds to lead India to a huge 256-run win over Hong Kong in their Asia Cup Group B match here on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old Raina compiled a 68-ball 101 for his maiden century while Dhoni notched an unbeaten 96-ball 109 as both shared a rapid-fire 166-run fourth wicket stand to shot India to the highest Asia Cup total of 374-4.

Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla then spun Hong Kong with figures of 4-23 as the minnows were bundled out for a paltry 118 in 36.5 overs.

India meet Pakistan on Thursday to decide who tops the Group. Pakistan beat Hong Kong by 155 runs.

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates are placed in Group A. The top two teams qualify for the Super League stages in which all teams play each other once to decide July 6 finalists.

It was an expectedly one-sided affair as Hong Kong were no match for a superior India who completely dominated the match.

Hong Kong never posed any trouble for their stronger opponents as only Irfan Ahmed (25), Jamie Atkinson (23) and Tabarak Dar (21) offered a little resistance.

Dhoni was delighted with his team's performance.

"You have to be ruthless no matter who you play," said Dhoni. "Everything clicked for us, Raina batted superbly and we played like we should."

Earlier, it was the Indian batsmen led by Raina and Dhoni who enjoyed a run feast.

Both were on the rampage, hitting the hapless Hong Kong bowlers to all corners of the park during their brisk 123-ball stand.

Raina reached his second fifty off just 16 deliveries, smashing five sixes and three boundaries in the process.

He hit three of those sixes off paceman Skhawat Ali before hitting another off Irfan to reach his first one-day international hundred off just 66 balls.

In all he hit seven boundaries and five towering sixes before he miscued a lofted shot off Afzaal Haider in the 46th over.