By our correspondent
SHARJAH: Pakistan registered their second win in as many days with a dominant 31-run victory over hosts UAE in the second T20I in Sharjah.
A commanding batting performance, led by half-centuries from openers Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz, propelled Pakistan to a formidable total of 207 — their joint third-highest in men’s T20Is. Despite a late counterattack from UAE’s Asif Khan, the home side never truly threatened to chase down the target.
This was perhaps the closest Saim Ayub has come to delivering a vintage knock since returning from injury earlier this year. His intent was clear early on, as he dismantled Junaid Siddique for 22 runs in the third over, including two sixes and a four. Ayub continued to find boundaries both inside and outside the powerplay, targeting left-arm quick Muhammad Jawadullah with a sequence of aggressive strokes.
Reaching his half-century in just 25 balls, Ayub kept the scoring rate brisk despite wickets falling at the other end. His innings ended on 69 off 38 balls after a contentious caught-behind decision — a tough blow given the absence of DRS in the series — but his contribution ensured Pakistan maintained a run rate above nine throughout the innings.
Hasan Nawaz Takes Charge
Once Ayub departed, Hasan Nawaz stepped up with a blazing 56 off just 26 deliveries. He targeted UAE’s most economical bowler, Haider Ali, in brutal fashion — smashing 18 runs off the first three balls of his final over before falling to an inside edge.
Nawaz’s knock came at a crucial stage, with Pakistan at risk of losing momentum. His aggressive batting kept the UAE bowlers on the back foot and laid the groundwork for a strong finish.
Despite losing their sixth wicket at 163 with more than four overs remaining, Pakistan’s lower order ensured they maximized their total. Coach Mike Hesson’s emphasis on deep batting paid off, as Mohammad Nawaz (25), Faheem Ashraf (16), and Hasan Ali (9) combined to add 44 runs in the final 26 balls, taking Pakistan past the 200-run mark.
UAE’s Response: Waseem Sparks Hope, Asif Brings Fireworks
UAE’s chase heavily depended on captain Muhammad Waseem, who gave a flicker of hope with a rapid 33 during the powerplay. However, a calamitous mix-up saw him run out just as he looked set, and another wicket fell the very next ball, derailing any early momentum.
Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly Mohammad Nawaz and Saim Ayub, applied the squeeze during the middle overs, making UAE’s task virtually impossible.
Asif Khan, however, ensured the match ended with a bang. Walking in with the result all but sealed, he turned on the heat in the death overs with a blistering 77 off 35 balls. After a quiet start, he tore into Pakistan’s bowling — especially Sufiyan Muqim, Hasan Ali, and Salman Mirza — racking up 66 runs off his last 22 deliveries. Though it came too late to impact the outcome, Asif’s power-hitting helped UAE finish on 176 and lifted their net run rate above Afghanistan’s, who had lost more heavily to Pakistan the day before.
Pakistan’s 31-run victory underlines their strength and depth in T20 cricket, with young guns like Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz stepping up alongside experienced finishers. With two wins in two days, they’ve made a strong start to their campaign, while UAE, despite the defeat, can take heart from Asif Khan’s stunning display.
