Hong Kong fell 14 runs short in the opening match of the World T20 against Zimbabwe. Vusi Sibanda's 59 from the top of the order and some explosive late hitting from Elton Chigumbura saw Zimbabwe to 158, which proved 14 runs beyond Hong Kong despite a fine half century from Jamie Atkinson.

Having lost the toss and been put in to bat, Zimbabwe skipper Hamilton Masakadza got his side off to a quick start, hitting 20 off 13 balls before falling victim his own lazy running, run out by Babar Hayat having failed to ground his bat.

Two successive wickets for his opposite number Tanwir Afzal, who'd finish pick of the bowlers with 2-19 from his four overs, was followed by another peice of poor running, Sikandar Raza the victim as Zimbabwe stuttered to 62-4.

Sibanda and Mark Waller rebuilt the momentum with an accelerating 61 run partnership before both fell victim o Aizaz Khan in the 17th over. A 13 ball cameo from Elton Chigumbura yielded 30 runs, leaving Hong Kong with 159 to chase - an imposing total on a slowish deck with distant boundaries.

A slow start from openers Atkinson and Ryan Campbell meant Hong Kong were behind the pace throughout the chase, and whilst Atkinson was able to accelerate, Campbell's return to international cricket yielded only a laboured 9 runs from 19 before he fell to Donald Tripano on the first ball of the 5th.

With just 24 runs coming from the powerplay and the required rate edging toward ten an over, significant acceleration was required. Babar Hayat fell trying to provide it, trapped LBW by Wellington Masakadza attempting the slog-sweep, and Mark Chapman's promising innings of 19 came to an end as he holed out off a Raza full toss.

Atkinson kept hope alive, bringing up his fifty with consecutive boundaries, but by the time he picked out Williams at long on in the 17th over the asking rate was over 13. Afzal kept his side in with a chance down to the last over with a 17-ball 31, but in the end he could not do enough, and Zimbabwe open their qualifying campaign with a 14 run win.