Haider and Sharafu guide the UAE to a landmark series victory over Bangladesh
Haider and Sharafu guide the UAE to a landmark series victory over Bangladesh
UAE vs Bangladesh T20I Series: It was a heartbreaking failure for Bangladesh to lose the T20I series by 2-1 to the UAE.
UAE secured a historic T20I series win against Bangladesh, chasing down 163 with seven wickets in hand to claim the series 2-1. Alishan Sharafu played a crucial role, scoring an unbeaten 68, while Haider Ali’s brilliant bowling spell of 3 for 7 helped restrict Bangladesh to 162/9.
Haider Ali’s Magic with the Ball
Bangladesh struggled early, losing wickets quickly as Haider dismantled their batting lineup. The left-arm spinner struck with his very first ball, trapping Bangladesh captain Litton Das lbw for 14. Litton missed his sweep after moving too far across, exposing his stumps. Towhid Hridoy followed two balls later, also falling lbw as he misjudged Haider’s delivery. The UAE players erupted in celebration as Haider completed a double-wicket maiden. He continued his dominance by dismissing Mahedi Hasan, who attempted a cut shot but was bowled as the ball spun back onto his stumps.
Haider’s spell left Bangladesh reeling at 84/8, forcing them into survival mode. Tanzid Hasan tried to counterattack, smashing a few boundaries, but UAE’s bowlers kept the pressure on. Dhruv Parashar and Akif Raja supported Haider well, while Matiullah Khan struck twice in quick succession, removing Shamim Hossain and Rishad Hossain. Saghir Khan then dismissed Tanzim Hasan, leaving Bangladesh at risk of being bowled out for under 100.
Bangladesh’s Late Recovery
Jaker Ali and Hasan Mahmud fought back, adding crucial runs to push Bangladesh past 100. Jaker struck a couple of sixes, but exhaustion forced him to call for the physio multiple times. Mahmud joined the effort, hitting a six off Matiullah in the 18th over, followed by another big hit from Jaker in the penultimate over. However, Jaker fell soon after, slicing a shot to deep backward point. No. 11 Shoriful Islam then smashed a six over midwicket, helping Bangladesh reach a respectable total.
UAE captain Muhammad Waseem bowled the final over but struggled with his control, conceding 23 runs in five balls due to multiple high full-tosses. He was taken off the attack, and Sharafu had to complete the over, giving away three more runs.
UAE’s Chase: Sharafu and Asif Khan Shine
UAE’s chase didn’t start smoothly. Captain Muhammad Waseem, who had scored consecutive fifties in the first two games, fell early for just 9. Shoriful Islam got him to edge a wide delivery to slip. Muhammad Zohaib then countered with two sixes off Hasan Mahmud, hitting clean shots over long-on and extra cover.
Sharafu got his innings going with a top-edged six off Tanzim Hasan in the seventh over. However, Rishad Hossain struck back, dismissing Zohaib for 29 with a delivery that spun back into the left-hander. Rahul Chopra was the next to fall, misjudging a slower bouncer from Tanzim and getting caught at midwicket.
Despite UAE being three down and needing 84 off 56 balls, Sharafu remained calm. He ramped Tanzim for a six over deep third, then followed up with a four through point. However, Bangladesh’s bowlers tightened their grip, keeping UAE quiet for 16 deliveries, leaving them needing 53 from the last five overs.
Sharafu then broke the shackles, hammering Rishad down the ground for a six, with Tanzid Hasan parrying the catch at long-off. Asif Khan, known for his aggressive batting, joined the attack, smashing two consecutive sixes in the same over, making it a 19-run over. This reduced the required run rate from 10.60 to 8.50, leaving UAE needing 34 from the last four overs.
Sharafu finished the next over with a cracking four through the covers, while Asif smashed Hasan Mahmud over midwicket, bringing the equation close to a run-a-ball. With 14 needed from 12 balls, Asif clubbed two more sixes off Tanzim, putting UAE on the brink of victory. Sharafu fittingly struck the winning runs with a blistering cover drive off Mahmud, sealing UAE’s historic win.
A Landmark Victory for UAE Cricket
This victory marks the UAE’s second T20I series win against a Full Member team, having previously beaten Ireland in 2021. It’s a huge achievement for UAE cricket, showing their growing strength on the international stage. Haider Ali’s exceptional bowling and Sharafu’s composed batting under pressure were the key factors in this triumph. UAE’s ability to hold their nerve in crucial moments proved decisive, making this series win a defining moment in their cricketing journey.