Rath struck eight boundaries and two sixes during his career-best knock of 97

Hong Kong had a day to remember as they crushed Scotland by 109 runs in their ICC World Cricket League Championship match to win their first-ever ODI on home soil.

Opening batsman Anshuman Rath and batsman Nizakat Khan starred in Hong Kong’s historic win as they scored 97 and 94 respectively, while also a record-breaking 170-run partnership.

Scotland captain Preston Mommsen would have been pleased with his decision to bowl first early on as Hong Kong were reduced to 55/3 in the 13th over.

With Scotland firmly on top, Rath and Khan turned the tables on the tourists as they amassed a 170-run partnership, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries, before Khan was caught behind off the bowling of Safyaan Sharif.

Khan’s career-best knock of 94 came off 93 balls and included 11 boundaries and three sixes.

Khan fell six agonising runs short of his maiden ODI century

Rath fell a short while later as he was run out by Alasdair Evans for a career-best 97, which came off eight boundaries and two sixes.

Following Rath’s dismissal, Hong Kong’s lower order collapsed as they went from 241/5 to being bowled out for 259.

Evans was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Sharif and Rob Taylor snapped up two wickets apiece and debutant Bradley Wheal chipped in with one.

Chasing 260 to win, Scotland found themselves in dire straits early on as Kyle Coetzer, Matt Machan and Mommsen were all dismissed in quick succession.

With Scotland struggling at 17/3, even the rain could not save them as they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.

However, there was one batsman that provided a glimmer of hope for Scotland, and that was opener Calum MacLeod, who made 58 off 78 balls, which included seven boundaries.

MacLeod made a gutsy 58

Once MacLeod’s resistance came to an end, Scotland’s hopes of winning the match continued to dwindle despite some late fireworks from Taylor and Josh Davey, who made 18 and 24 respectively. In the end, Scotland ended up falling well short of their target as they were bowled out for 150.

Nadeem Ahmed was the most successful bowler with four wickets, while captain Tanwir Afzal took three, Aizaz Khan got two and Haseeb Amjad claimed one.

Rath was named Man of the Match.