Pakistan Secures Spot in Tri-Series Final with Victory Over UAE
Pakistan bounced back from their previous defeat to Afghanistan, securing a place in the tri-series final by defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 31 runs in Sharjah on Wednesday. This victory was highlighted by an outstanding performance from Fakhar Zaman with the bat and Abrar Ahmed with the ball. With this win, UAE was knocked out of the series, allowing Afghanistan to also advance to the final where they will face Pakistan.
Fakhar Zaman was the standout player for Pakistan, finishing the innings unbeaten at 77 runs off just 44 balls. He reached his fifty in a swift 34 deliveries, hitting 10 boundaries and 2 sixes. Despite losing wickets regularly, with captain Agha Salman (7) and Mohammad Haris (14) falling early, Fakhar’s brilliance ensured Pakistan posted a competitive score.
He was ably supported by Mohammad Nawaz, who contributed 37 not out from 27 balls. Their partnership of 91 runs propelled Pakistan to a total of 171 runs for 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Haider Ali was the pick of the bowlers for UAE, claiming 2 wickets for 17 runs, though others struggled, particularly Junaid Siddique, who conceded 52 runs.
UAE’s Alishan Sharafu Shines Amidst Defeat
In their chase of 172 runs, the UAE relied heavily on Alishan Sharafu, who didn’t let them down. The opener scored a valiant 68 runs off 51 balls, reaching his fifty in 38 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes. Unfortunately, he did not receive enough support from his teammates.
Captain Muhammad Waseem managed to score 19 runs before being dismissed by Abrar Ahmed, who delivered a match-turning performance. The leg-spinner took 4 wickets for just 9 runs in his 4 overs, dismissing Waseem, Asif Khan, Rahul Chopra, and Harshit Kaushik.
Shaheen Shah Afridi contributed by taking 1 wicket for 23 runs, giving Pakistan an early breakthrough, while Nawaz also played a role in the bowling effort. UAE finished their innings at 140 for 7, falling short of the target despite Sharafu’s commendable effort.
Match Summary
Pakistan: 171/5 in 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 77, Mohammad Nawaz 37; Haider Ali 2/17)
UAE: 140/7 in 20 overs (Alishan Sharafu 68, Muhammad Waseem 19; Abrar Ahmed 4/9, Shaheen Shah Afridi 1/23)
Result: Pakistan won by 31 runs.
