Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz’s explosive fifties powered Pakistan to another victory, while only Asif Khan’s fiery 77-ball 77 helped the United Arab Emirates reduce the margin of defeat.
Among Pakistan’s first five batsmen, only Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz reached double figures, playing destructive innings that, along with cameo contributions from Mohammad Nawaz and Fahim Ashraf, helped the team surpass 200 runs. After a strong start in the chase, UAE lost momentum, and Asif Khan’s blazing knock was all they could rely on to narrow the gap.
In the second match of the tri-nation T20 series in the UAE, Pakistan defeated the hosts by 31 runs, making it two wins from the first two matches under captain Salman Ali Agha.
At Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday, Pakistan were bowled out for 207 in the last four balls of their innings, losing three wickets in quick succession. This is the highest total Pakistan has scored on this ground and the second-highest by any team here.
In reply, UAE started well, scoring 39 runs in the first four overs without losing a wicket, but ultimately managed only 176 for 8. Asif Khan played a storming 35-ball 77, hitting six fours and six sixes.
Saim Ayub was Pakistan’s standout performer. The left-handed opener scored 69 off 38 balls with seven fours and four sixes and also took a wicket in two overs, earning the Man of the Match award. Hasan Nawaz contributed 56 off 26 balls, including six sixes and two fours. Both had failed with the bat in the first match.
Pakistan elected to bat after winning the toss, just as they did in their 39-run victory over Afghanistan the day before. Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman were dismissed early, and Salman Ali Agha also fell cheaply for five. In between, Saim dominated, smashing four sixes and six fours in just 25 balls to reach his fourth T20 fifty at the age of 23. In the first eight overs, he alone scored 54 of Pakistan’s 75 runs.
Saim was dismissed in the 12th over, caught at the keeper off a delivery outside leg stump. He was unhappy with the umpire’s decision, but the series does not use DRS.
Hasan Nawaz matched Saim’s aggression, reaching a fifty in just 24 balls with three consecutive sixes before being caught on the next delivery. Cameo contributions from Mohammad Nawaz (25 off 15) and Fahim Ashraf (16 off 10) helped Pakistan cross 200.
For UAE, Junaid Siddique and Saghir Khan took three wickets each, though both were expensive—Junaid gave 49 runs in four overs, and Saghir 44.
Muhammad Waseem and Muhammad Zohaib gave UAE a solid start, putting on 39 runs without loss in the first four overs, but Zohaib fell for 13. Waseem (33 off 18) was run out in the next over, followed by Ethan D’Souza and Alishan Sharafu, leaving UAE struggling at 68 for 4.
Asif Khan then carried the fight alone, hitting boundaries off Sufiyan Muqeem and Hasan Nawaz’s overs, but UAE’s target remained daunting, needing 86 from the last five overs. He reached his fifty in the 18th over and continued to score, finishing with a spectacular 77, while Hasan Nawaz claimed two wickets in the final three balls to seal Pakistan’s victory.
Pakistan’s next match in the series will see Afghanistan face UAE on Monday.
Score Summary
- Pakistan: 207 all out (20 Ov) – Sahibzada Farhan 8, Saim Ayub 69, Fakhar Zaman 6, Salman Ali Agha 5, Hasan Nawaz 56, Mohammad Nawaz 25, Mohammad Haris 1, Fahim Ashraf 16, Hasan Ali 9, Salman Mirza 3, Sufiyan Muqeem 0*; Bowling: Junaid Siddique 4-0-49-3, Dhruv Parashar 4-0-34-0, Haider Ali 4-0-32-2, Muhammad Jawadullah 4-0-44-0, Saghir Khan 4-0-44-3
- UAE: 176/8 (20 Ov) – Muhammad Zohaib 13, Muhammad Waseem 33, Ethan D’Souza 3, Alishan Sharafu 3, Rahul Chopra 11, Asif Khan 77, Dhruv Parashar 15, Saghir Khan 11, Haider Ali 1*, Junaid Siddique 0*; Bowling: Salman Mirza 4-0-43-1, Hasan Ali 4-0-47-3, Mohammad Nawaz 4-0-21-2, Saim Ayub 2-0-6-1, Fahim Ashraf 2-0-15-0, Sufiyan Muqeem 4-0-44-0
Result: Pakistan won by 31 runs
Man of the Match: Saim Ayub
