T20I tri-series: Pakistan thump UAE by 31 runs

Pakistan grabbed their second win in the T20I tri-series as they defeated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 31 runs at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing a challenging total of 208, UAE managed 176-8 despite a solid start.

Openers Muhammad Zohaib and skipper Muhammad Waseem added a crucial 39-run partnership, with Waseem taking an aggressive approach from the outset.

However, Zohaib struggled and was dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz on the first ball of the fifth over after scoring 13 off 14 deliveries.

Waseem played a vital knock but couldn’t make a lasting impact, as he was run out following a mix-up while running between the wickets. Hasan Ali effected the dismissal with support from Hasan Nawaz, leaving Waseem with 33 off 18 balls, with UAE at 54-2 in 5.5 overs.

In the final delivery of the powerplay, Hasan Ali struck again, claiming his first wicket of the match by dismissing Ethan D’Souza for three off four deliveries.

UAE continued to feel the pressure as Saim Ayub struck to dismiss Alishan Sharafu for three off six balls, reducing the team to 68-4 in 8.4 overs.

Mohammad Nawaz maintained his excellent form, claiming UAE’s fifth wicket as Rahul Chopra fell for 11 off 14 deliveries, leaving the hosts deep in trouble.

Dhruv Parashar and Asif Khan then steadied the innings, guiding UAE past the 100-run mark. By the 14th over, the score stood at 103-5.

The 15th over proved costly for Pakistan, as Hasan Ali conceded 19 runs, including two sixes and a four, with Asif Khan launching a powerful assault.

The pair added a 50-run partnership by the 16th over but still faced a steep climb, needing 79 runs from four overs.

The crucial 54-run partnership was broken by Salman Mirza, who dismissed Dhruv Parashar for 15 off 19 balls, leaving UAE at 130-6 in 16.2 overs.

Asif Khan then turned up the heat, smashing a six off the first ball of the 17th over to reach a blazing fifty off just 25 balls, including four sixes.

Hasan Ali struck decisively in the final over, claiming his second wicket by dismissing Asif for a fiery 77 off 35 balls, which included six fours and six sixes.

He also removed Saghir Khan for 11, wrapping up the UAE innings and securing a convincing win for Pakistan.

For Pakistan, Hasan Ali led the bowling attack with figures of 3/47, while Mohammad Nawaz recorded 2/21 in four overs. Salman Mirza and Saim Ayub contributed one wicket each.

Batting first, Pakistan suffered an early setback as opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for eight runs off five balls by Junaid Siddique in the first over.

Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman then put together a 29-run partnership for the second wicket, but Zaman fell for six runs off seven deliveries to spinner Haider Ali, leaving Pakistan at 38-2 in 3.1 overs.

Saim Ayub continued his aggressive innings, reaching his fourth T20I fifty off just 25 deliveries at a strike rate of 200. Pakistan captain Salman Agha fell cheaply for five runs off nine balls to Saghir Khan, reducing the team to 74-3 in 7.5 overs.

The 12th over proved costly as Saghir Khan struck again, dismissing Saim Ayub for a crucial 69-run knock off 38 balls, which included seven fours and four sixes, leaving Pakistan at 104-4 in 11.3 overs.

In the 16th over, Hasan Nawaz hit three consecutive sixes, helping him reach his second T20I fifty off just 24 deliveries, while sharing a 50-run partnership with Mohammad Nawaz.

He was eventually dismissed on the fourth delivery of the over for 56 off 26 balls, which included two fours and six sixes, with Pakistan at 161-5 in 15.4 overs.

In the 17th over, Junaid Siddique removed wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris for a run-a-ball one, leaving Pakistan at 169-6 in 16.3 overs.

Saghir Khan continued his impressive spell by dismissing Mohammad Nawaz for a quick 25 off 15 balls, marking Pakistan’s seventh wicket.

Faheem Ashraf was run out for 16 off 11 balls, Salman Mirza was run out for three, and Sufiyan Muqeem did not face a delivery as Pakistan were bowled out for 207.