Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz hit explosive fifties as Pakistan crushed UAE by 31 runs in Sharjah T20I clash.
Pakistan 207 all out (Ayub 69, Hasan Nawaz 56, Saghir 3-44) beat UAE 176 for 8 (Asif 77, Waseem 33, Hasan Ali 3-47) by 31 runs
Pakistan Dominate UAE in Sharjah
Pakistan continued their strong form in the tri-series with another commanding win. Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz delivered with the bat, guiding Pakistan to a 31-run victory against UAE in Sharjah. Their explosive half-centuries, supported by late cameos, pushed Pakistan to a massive 207 — their joint third-highest total in men’s T20I cricket.
UAE’s Hopes Rested on Muhammad Waseem
UAE’s chase revolved around captain Muhammad Waseem. He launched a fiery start, racing to 33 in the powerplay. However, a mix-up ended his innings early, crushing UAE’s momentum. Another quick wicket immediately after left the home side struggling. Pakistan tightened control through Saim Ayub’s bowling and Mohammad Nawaz’s tidy spells, making the contest one-sided.
Saim Ayub Unleashes Vintage Brilliance
Saim Ayub looked back to his best since returning from injury earlier this year. His innings set the tone. He smashed Junaid Siddique for two sixes and a four in a 22-run third over. Ayub’s aggressive intent never faded, even after the powerplay. He struck boundaries off Muhammad Jawadullah with ease and reached his half-century in just 25 balls.
He eventually fell controversially caught behind for 69 off 38 balls. With no DRS available in the series, the decision stood. Still, his explosive knock gave Pakistan a run rate above nine, laying a perfect foundation.
Hasan Nawaz Takes Charge
Hasan Nawaz continued the onslaught. He targeted spinner Haider Ali, who had bowled tightly until then. In one over, Nawaz smashed 18 runs before falling for 56 off 26 balls. Pakistan faced a tricky spot at 163/6 with 26 balls left, but the lower order stepped up.
Mohammad Nawaz added 25, Faheem Ashraf chipped in 16, and Hasan Ali contributed 9. Together, they piled 44 runs in the final four overs, pushing Pakistan past 200. It ensured Pakistan had full control, even if UAE tried something extraordinary.
Asif Khan’s Brutal Counterattack
UAE’s resistance came from Asif Khan. Known for his striking ability, he once again delivered fireworks. His 35-ball 77 featured relentless hitting, but it arrived too late. Pakistan’s bowlers lost intensity, and Asif punished them with boundaries at will.
After scoring just 11 off 12 balls, he shifted gears in the 14th over. He smashed Hasan Ali for 19 runs, Sufiyan Muqim for 17, and Salman Mirza for 18. His last 22 balls produced a stunning 66 runs.
Still, the chase was already out of reach. UAE needed 122 from the last seven overs when he began his onslaught. Asif’s brilliant innings helped UAE finish above Afghanistan on net run rate. Yet, the victory belonged to Pakistan.
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