Clinical Pakistan Seal Tri-Series Final Berth with Commanding Victory Over UAE
A dominant all-round performance from Pakistan secured them a comprehensive 38-run victory over hosts United Arab Emirates in the fifth match of the T20I Tri-Series in Sharjah, cementing their place in the tournament final.
Pakistan Posts Formidable Total on Tricky Surface
Choosing to bat first, Pakistan's innings was built on a foundation of power and patience. Openers Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub provided a brisk start, navigating the initial powerplay with intent. The middle order then took charge, with a standout performance from the ever-reliable Babar Azam, who top-scored with a polished 45 off 38 deliveries.
The innings' true impetus, however, came from the explosive lower middle order. A quickfire cameo from Iftikhar Ahmed (31* off 21 balls) and a brutal assault from Imad Wasim (28* off 12 balls) propelled Pakistan to a formidable total of 162/4 in their 20 overs. Their late flourish ensured the hosts faced a challenging chase on a pitch that offered some assistance to the bowlers.
Disciplined Bowling Strangles UAE Chase
In response, the UAE chase never found its rhythm against a disciplined and varied Pakistani bowling attack. The required run rate climbed steadily as the Pakistani seamers, led by the impressive Mohammad Amir, bowled with pinpoint accuracy in the powerplay. Amir's early breakthroughs, finishing with excellent figures of 2/13, put the hosts immediately on the back foot.
The pressure was maintained by the spin duo of Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan, who expertly varied their pace and denied the UAE batters any room to free their arms. Wickets fell at regular intervals, with only a fighting 35 from UAE's captain, Muhammad Waseem, offering any significant resistance.
Despite a few late boundaries, the UAE innings concluded at 124/9, falling well short of the target. The Pakistani bowlers shared the spoils around, with Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan each claiming two wickets in a collective display of bowling strength.
Key Takeaways and Looking Ahead
This victory was a complete team effort for Pakistan, showcasing their batting depth and bowling prowess. The ability to accelerate in the death overs and the clinical execution with the ball will give the side significant confidence.
For the UAE, the match highlighted the gap in execution under pressure against a top-tier side. They will look to regroup and address their batting consistency as the tournament progresses.
With this win, Pakistan successfully books their spot in the Tri-Series final, where they will await the winner of the remaining fixtures between New Zealand and the UAE.
Brief Scores:
- Pakistan: 162/4 in 20 overs (Babar Azam 45, Iftikhar Ahmed 31*; Zahoor Khan 2/32)
- United Arab Emirates: 124/9 in 20 overs (Muhammad Waseem 35; Mohammad Amir 2/13, Shaheen Afridi 2/21, Shadab Khan 2/27)
- Result: Pakistan won by 38 runs.
