SCORECARDCOMMENTARY
PAK WON
T20
PAK beat UAE by 31 runs
Man of the Match - Saim Ayub
PAK
207-10
20.0/20 Ovrs
176-8
20.0/20 Ovrs
UAE
T20I Tri-Series in UAE, 2025 |Match 2 |8/30/2025
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Commentary
- Right then, that is it from this game and we are already two games down in this Tri-Series, with Pakistan coming out trumps in both matches. Next up, it will be the home side, United Arab Emirates taking on Afghanistan at the same venue on Monday, 1st September. That game will begin at 3 pm GMT but you can always tune in sooner for the build-up. Cheers!
- The victorious captain of Pakistan, SALMAN AGHA, reflects that they batted really well. Admits that they bowled with control in the first 15 overs, but leaked runs in the last five. Stresses that it is one area where they are focusing on improving. Appreciates Hasan Nawaz and calls him a generational talent with a great future. Adds that he just needs to keep working on his game. Stresses to get better in the death bowling and feels the need to do better in the next game. Ends by adding that he wants his side to play an aggressive brand of cricket.
- The skipper of United Arab Emirates, MUHAMMAD WASEEM says that the team gave away 15-20 runs extra in the first innings but appreciates the fight from the batters to keep the game alive till the end. Speaks highly about the performance from Asif Khan and feels lucky to have a talent like him in their team. And also points out that, they need to mix their bowlers a bit and would look to bounce back in the upcoming matches.
- Pakistan's SAIM AYUB is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fine knock of 69 off just 38 deliveries. He says that it's pleasing to see different players performing at different times. Says he does not like individual awards and calls them overrated, as cricket is a team game. Adds that it is all about the execution, to pick the length and wait for the bad balls. Shares that he is working on his bowling and is getting better at it. On how difficult it is to maintain consistency in T20 cricket, he says you just need to keep your thought process clear.
- The Presentation ceremony...
- Earlier in the game, Pakistan won the toss and opted to set the tone with the bat. That is exactly what Saim Ayub did with a half-century and just like the previous game, Pakistan has a substantial contribution from at least one of their openers, which laid the foundation of things to come. Hasan Nawaz was the enforcer in the middle order and he too scored a half-century, helping his side breach the 200-run mark. Saghir Khan and Junaid Siddique picked up three wickets each but they were expensive and no UAE bowler really was able to put the brakes on Pakistan's charge.
- UAE will look back at this contest and feel that they could have actually pulled off an upset here. Pakistan's bowling lineup was weakened and the UAE skipper, Muhammad Waseem, provided his team with a quick start. However, the rest of the top order failed to make an impact as Asif Khan played a lone and substantial hand in the second half of the chase. Unfortunately, his exploits weren't enough for the home side to get over the line.
- Pakistan had the runs on the board and a few wickets up top were all they needed. The first wicket didn't come early on but once it came, their bowlers pounced on the opportunity and exposed the middle order of the UAE. The spinners did a fine job, especially Mohammad Nawaz, who was economical and picked up a couple of wickets as well. Without the likes of Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf in the lineup, the death bowling wasn't at its best but they had done enough to ensure a comfortable victory. And, Hasan Ali did end proceedings with a couple of wickets in the final over, even though he was expensive overall.
- Pakistan make it two wins out of two to kickstart this Tri-Series and they are now in a dominant position. United Arab Emirates open their account with a loss and are in the same boat as Afghanistan.
- 19.60Hasan Ali to Junaid Siddique, Slows it up, does Hasan Ali, an off cutter, around off, on a fullish length. Junaid looks to whip it away, across the line and misses to lay his bat on ball. PAKISTAN WIN BY 31 RUNS!
- 19.50Hasan Ali to Junaid Siddique, Full and a slower delivery, angling outside the off stump, Siddique attempts to sail it over long on but misses.
- Junaid Siddique walks in at number 10.
- 19.4WHasan Ali to Saghir Khan, OUT! GONE! CAUGHT! The final rites being read! Third wicket for Hasan Ali! Bowls it full and on the leg stump line. Saghir Khan clears the front leg to tonk it over long on, but does not get his bat properly under the ball and mistimes it off the toe end. The ball sails straight down the throat of Mohammad Nawaz at long on. UAE lose their 8th wicket!
- 19.31Hasan Ali to Haider Ali, Fuller delivery and angling toward the off pole. Haider Ali swings across the line and gets a leading edge and the ball drops in front of short third for a single.
- Haider Ali is in next.
- 19.2WHasan Ali to Asif Khan, OUT! STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR AND GONE! Hasan Ali gets his second wicket! He slams the deck hard, short and on the stumps, kicking off the deck. Asif Khan shapes up to pull it over the leg side, but gets the ball high on the body and ends up top-edging it over square leg. Goes only as far as deep square leg and Sahibzada Farhan runs in a few yards from the deep and settles under it to take a fine catch. Good gesture from the tourists as every Pakistani player walks towards Asif and appreciates his blistering knock. A very entertaining inning from Asif Khan comes to an end as he departs with a broad smile, scoring 77 off just 35 balls.
- 19.14Hasan Ali to Asif Khan, FOUR! Slashed away! Hasan lands it full and just around the off pole. Asif Khan waits for it to come, clears his front leg and gives himself some room. Opens the bat face late and slices it over and between backward point and short third for a boundary.
- END OF OVER 19 | 18 Runs & 0 Wkt | UAE 171/6
- 18.60Salman Mirza to Saghir Khan, Wild swing and a miss! Salman fires a full ball, around off, Saghir Khan goes hard at the delivery and tries to tonk it over long on, but the ball nibbles away to beat the outside edge. Salman Mirza finishes off his spell with figures of 4-0-43-1.
- 18.56Salman Mirza to Saghir Khan, SIX! WALLOP! Shortish delivery, slower one, on top of middle. Saghir Khan weighs on the back foot, waits for it and pulls it over deep square leg for a huge six.
- 18.41Salman Mirza to Asif Khan, Low full toss, outside off, Asif Khan frees his arms and drives it between mid off and cover for a single.
- 18.30Salman Mirza to Asif Khan, Takes pace off, does Mirza, on a length, across off. Asif Khan clears the the front leg and tries to smash it over covers, but connects thin air as he is beaten by the lack of pace.
- 18.26Salman Mirza to Asif Khan, SIX! SMOKED! This is impressive batting from Khan! Into the slot, touch full and on off. Asif Khan gets his bat under the ball and hoists it behind the sightscreen for a mammoth six. 44 needed off 10 balls!
- 18.14Salman Mirza to Asif Khan, FOUR! Cheeky! Mirza misses the yorker by a yard, slants it outside off, on a fuller length. Asif Khan shuffles across off and uses the pace of the ball to scoop it over short fine leg for a boundary.
- 18.11wdSalman Mirza to Asif Khan, WIDE! Miles outside off, beyond the tramline. Asif happily lets it be. Wide called.