In a nail-biting thriller at Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates scripted history, chasing down a daunting 206-run target to beat Bangladesh by two wickets in the second T20I. This marks UAE’s highest successful chase in T20Is and the first time they’ve ever chased 200+ in the format — a stunning achievement against a Test-playing nation.
With the win, UAE levelled the three-match series 1-1, setting the stage for a tantalizing decider on May 21 at the same venue.
The final over had it all — pressure, drama, and comical confusion. Chasing 206, UAE needed 12 off the final six balls, with Haider Ali, playing just his second T20I, at the crease.
Bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib began with a wide before Dhruv Parashar smoked a six. But Sakib struck back immediately, castling Parashar with a well-disguised slower ball. Then came a comedy of errors — with three runs required off two balls, Sakib bowled a high full toss that was called a no-ball, handing UAE a crucial lifeline.
The penultimate delivery was slashed over point by Haider, and amidst chaos and miscommunication in the field, Tawhid Hridoy hesitated to release the throw, allowing UAE to scramble two runs and seal an unforgettable victory.
The chase was built on a blistering start by UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem, who launched a savage assault on debutant Nahid Rana, taking 32 off the youngster’s first two overs. Waseem smashed a 42-ball 82 in a 107-run opening stand with Aryan Lakra, matching Bangladesh’s own flying start earlier in the day.
After Tanvir Islam broke the stand, Bangladesh struck back, triggering a mini-collapse as UAE slid from 148/2 to 177/6 in the space of 17 balls. But the lower order kept cool under pressure, with Haider Ali’s mature knock finishing the job.
Earlier, after being asked to bat, Bangladesh posted 205 for 5 — their fourth-highest total in T20Is — with a fiery 58 off 31 balls from Tanzid Hasan Tamim setting the tone. Opening with Liton Das, the pair added 90 runs in just 9.1 overs, dominating the UAE bowlers early.
Liton, steady with a 32-ball 40, was followed by useful knocks from Najmul Hossain Shanto (27 off 19), Towhid Hridoy (45 off 24), and Jaker Ali (18 off 6), as Bangladesh crossed the 200-mark comfortably.
However, the bowlers failed to defend the big total, and fielding lapses — particularly in the final over — proved costly.