Pakistan outclass UAE despite Asif Khan’s fighting half-century in tri-series clash
SHARJAH: Pakistan registered their second successive victory in the T20I tri-nation series with a 31-run win over the United Arab Emirates at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Set a stiff target of 208, the home side closed on 176-8 despite making a bright start.
Openers Muhammad Zohaib and skipper Muhammad Waseem stitched together 39 runs for the first wicket, with Waseem taking the attack to Pakistan’s bowlers from the outset. Zohaib, however, struggled to find momentum and was removed by Mohammad Nawaz in the fifth over for 13 off 14 balls.
The UAE captain continued aggressively but his innings ended prematurely after a mix-up between the wickets. Hasan Ali, with support from Hasan Nawaz, ran him out for a brisk 33 from 18 deliveries, leaving the hosts at 54-2 in the sixth over.
Hasan Ali struck again on the final ball of the powerplay, dismissing Ethan D’Souza for just three, before Saim Ayub got rid of Alishan Sharafu for 3, reducing UAE to 68-4.
Nawaz further dented the chase when he sent back Rahul Chopra for 11, piling more pressure on the Emirati batting.
Dhruv Parashar and Asif Khan then steadied the innings, guiding their side past the 100-run mark. Asif in particular went on the counterattack, punishing Hasan Ali with two sixes and a four in a costly 15th over.
The duo’s 54-run stand ended in the 17th over when Salman Mirza dismissed Parashar for 15. By then, UAE still required nearly 80 from the last four overs.
Asif Khan, though, kept fighting. He launched a six to bring up a blistering half-century from just 25 balls, eventually hammering 77 off 35 deliveries with six sixes and four boundaries. His dismissal in the final over at the hands of Hasan Ali ended UAE’s slim hopes. Hasan also accounted for Saghir Khan (11), ensuring Pakistan closed out the game comfortably.
Hasan Ali finished as the pick of the bowlers with 3-47, while Nawaz impressed again with 2-21. Salman Mirza and Saim Ayub chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Pakistan, batting first, were dismissed for 207 in 19.5 overs. The innings began shakily when opener Sahibzada Farhan fell to Junaid Siddique in the very first over for eight. Fakhar Zaman also departed early for six, leaving Pakistan at 38-2.
Saim Ayub carried the innings with an explosive knock, smashing his fourth T20I half-century off only 25 balls. He eventually scored 69 off 38, studded with seven fours and four sixes, before Saghir Khan ended his stay. Captain Salman Ali Agha managed just five.
Later, Hasan Nawaz provided fireworks, hammering three consecutive sixes en route to a 24-ball fifty — his second in T20Is. He made 56 off 26, including six maximums, while sharing a valuable stand with Mohammad Nawaz (25 off 15).
Despite those contributions, Pakistan lost momentum in the death overs as wickets tumbled. Saghir Khan bowled impressively, claiming key scalps, while run-outs of Faheem Ashraf (16) and Salman Mirza (3) saw Pakistan bowled out one ball short of their quota.
Still, their 207 proved more than enough as the bowlers backed up the batting effort, sealing a convincing win to keep their unbeaten run alive in the series.
