Afghanistan scripted history on Sunday by defeating Australia by four wickets in the final of the Hong Kong Sixes 2026, clinching their maiden title in the tournament after a remarkable batting performance led by Imran Mir and Farmanullah Safi.
Chasing a challenging target of 116 in six overs, Afghanistan reached 119 for two in just 5.1 overs, with Mir smashing an unbeaten 53 off 14 deliveries and Safi contributing 26 not out from seven balls.
The victory capped an unbeaten campaign for Afghanistan, who defeated South Africa and Oman in the group stage before overcoming Scotland in the semi-final and Australia in the title clash.
Mir's innings, featuring seven sixes and two fours, proved decisive as Afghanistan completed the chase with five deliveries remaining.
๐๐บ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
Australia, batting first, posted 115 for five in their allotted six overs, with Max Bryant leading the scoring through an aggressive 44 off just 14 deliveries.
Bryant's innings included four boundaries and four sixes, while Nick Hobson contributed a brisk 22 and Alex Ross remained unbeaten on 29 off 10 balls.
For Afghanistan, Karim Janat and Nangyal Kharoti claimed one wicket each, preventing Australia from building an even larger total.
Afghanistan's reply began aggressively but suffered two early setbacks. Janat departed after scoring 13 off five balls, while captain Gulbadin Naib made 17 off six deliveries.
With the score at 32 for two, Mir and Safi took control of the chase, launching a sustained attack on the Australian bowling.
Mir reached his half-century in just 14 deliveries, while Safi struck four sixes in his seven-ball unbeaten innings.
Their partnership carried Afghanistan past the target and secured the country's first Hong Kong Sixes championship.
๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ด๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ถ๐ป
India concluded their Hong Kong Sixes campaign with a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the Bowl Division playoff, completing a chase of 117 runs off the final delivery.
Bangladesh, batting first, scored 116 in six overs, with captain Abu Hider producing an unbeaten 62 from just 18 deliveries, including eight sixes and three boundaries.
Bangladesh made a flying start, collecting 24 runs in the opening over, before India captain Krunal Pandya struck three times to dismiss Sabbir Rahman, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury and Md Rizwan.
Despite the setbacks, Abu Hider's explosive innings helped Bangladesh post a formidable total.
In response, Shashank Singh and Rahul Tripathi provided India with a rapid opening partnership of 69 runs.
Tripathi scored 32 off 12 balls, while Shashank struck 50 from just 15 deliveries, including seven sixes, to keep India in contention.
With 23 runs required from the final over, Rahul Tewatia and Nitish Rana held their nerve to complete the chase on the last ball.
The victory gave India a winning finish to their campaign, although they had already been eliminated from title contention.
๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ
Scotland finished third in the Cup Division after defeating the United Arab Emirates by 46 runs in the playoff.
Batting first, Scotland posted an imposing 135 for one in six overs, powered by an extraordinary batting display from Michael Leask.
Leask struck 53 off just 11 balls, including six sixes and four boundaries, before retiring after completing his half-century.
Finlay McCreath contributed 30 off 12 deliveries, while Jack Jarvis remained unbeaten on 38 from 13 balls, hitting five sixes.
The UAE managed 90 for three in response, with captain Khalid Shah scoring 25 off nine deliveries.
Scotland's commanding performance ensured they finished the tournament on the podium after missing out on a place in the final.
๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฟ๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐๐ป
Hosts Hong Kong, China registered a narrow one-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Plate Division playoff after defending a total of 119.
Openers Babar Hayat and Anshuman Rath provided a strong foundation with an 85-run partnership.
Rath smashed 51 off 17 deliveries, including six sixes and three boundaries, before retiring, while Hayat remained unbeaten on 44 from 16 balls.
Sri Lanka mounted a spirited chase despite losing early wickets, with Sangeeth Cooray and Muditha Lakshan adding 77 runs in a crucial partnership.
Lakshan scored an unbeaten 52 off 16 balls, while Cooray contributed 30 not out from nine deliveries.
However, Sri Lanka fell just short of the target, allowing the hosts to secure one of the closest victories of the tournament.
๐ฆ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐๐ณ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ถ๐บ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐น ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐น๐ฒ
South Africa emerged as the Bowl Division champions, with Blake Simpson producing a rapid half-century off just 12 deliveries in the title-winning performance.
The final day also featured a high-scoring contest between Pakistan and Oman, with Pakistan posting 154 runs in six overs.
Pakistan's Abbas struck 73 off 16 deliveries, including 11 sixes, while Abdul Samad contributed 32 off seven balls.
Oman responded strongly, with Zohaib Amanat scoring 61 off 18 deliveries and Usman Afridi making 67 off 17 balls.
However, Oman finished on 136, handing Pakistan an 18-run victory.
In the women's exhibition match, Hong Kong, China Women defeated China Women Stars by 25 runs after posting 67 for three and restricting their opponents to 42 for two.
Natasha Miles top-scored with an unbeaten 34 off 25 balls, helping the hosts secure a comfortable victory.
The three-day tournament concluded with Afghanistan lifting the main championship for the first time, while several other teams produced notable performances across the Cup, Plate and Bowl divisions.
Afghanistan's triumph was particularly significant as it came in only their second appearance in the competition, adding another achievement to the country's growing international cricket record.