Published: Feb 29, 2016, 10:19 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 29, 2016, 11:31 PM (IST)
Pakistan have won the sixth match of Asia Cup 2016 played against UAE by seven wickets. UAE won the toss and decided to bat first but could only score 129 in their allotted 20 overs; they lost six wickets. UAE started poorly losing both their openers— Rohan Mustafa and Muhammad Kaleem for just a run each. Mohammad Shahzad, who came one-down could score only five runs before Sahaiman Anwar gave them some hope. Anwar was cruising along well before Mohammad Irfan sent him back to the pavilion for 46. Besides him, only three more UAE batsmen could get to double digits viz. Muhammad Usman, Amjad Javed and Mohammad Naveed. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs UAE, Asia Cup T20 2016, Match 6 at Dhaka
In reply, Pakistan faced a few hiccups at the start of their innings. They lost their top three batsmen when the scoreboard read just 17. Amjad Javed picked up all the three wickets that fell. Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik then made a -run fourth-wicket stand. They took Pakistan to a decent position at 84 for 3 after the end of 15 overs needing 46 more runs from 30 balls to win the match. Shoaib Malik got to his half century with a six over deep mid-wicket off Rohan Mustafa’s bowling on the second ball of the 17th over. BLOG: Pakistan vs UAE, Asia Cup T20 2016, Match 6 at Dhaka
The match became very interesting at the end as Pakistan required 27 runs from the final three overs. They were the favourites to win at that moment but considering UAE had bowled so very well in the tournament, an upset could not be ruled out at that point of the match. However, Akmal had different intentions in his mind as he hit a four, six and four in consecutive deliveries of Amjad Javed. He ended the over with another six as 23 runs came off it. Pakistan then needed only four runs from 12 balls; a cakewalk for them. They reached the target with eight balls remaining.
Brief scores:
UAE 129 for 6 in 20 overs (Shaiman Anwar 46, Amjad Javed 27; Mohammad Aamer 2 for 6, Mohammad Irfan 2 for 30) lose to Pakistan 131 for 3 in 18.4 overs (Shoaib Malik 63*, Umar Akmal 50*; Amjad Javed 3 for 36) by 7 wickets.
