UAE picked up their first win of the Asia Cup with a 42-run triumph over Oman in Abu Dhabi on Monday, thanks to half-centuries from Alishan Sharafu and Muhammad Waseem, followed by a clinical display from their bowlers.
Both sides entered the match searching for their first points of the tournament on a slow, low surface. Sharafu adapted best, using his feet to great effect during the powerplay. He charged down the track repeatedly, striking six boundaries within the first six overs. His most eye-catching stroke came later, an inside-out drive over cover for six off leg spinner Samay Shrivastava. Sharafu’s 51 laid the platform for UAE to accelerate after a sluggish start of 11 without loss after three overs.
Waseem, meanwhile, battled through a scratchy innings but still managed to become the fourth-fastest batter to 3000 T20I runs, joining illustrious company in Mohammad Rizwan, Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. His 69 off 54 balls featured bursts of authority, including three fours in an over off Aamir Kaleem and a straight six to bring up his fifty. Oman did themselves no favours in the field, dropping him twice – first at long-on when he was on 27, and then at short fine leg on 34.
Late hitting from Harshit Kaushik and Muhammad Zohaib, who combined for 40 runs off 21 deliveries, pushed UAE to a competitive 172 for 5.
Oman’s chase faltered almost immediately. Jatinder Singh briefly threatened with a brisk 20 off 10, timing the ball better than anyone else on the day, but his dismissal sparked a collapse. Captain Zeeshan Maqsood was bowled off his pads by Junaid Siddique during a spell in which three wickets fell in 14 balls. By the end of the powerplay Oman were 32 for 4, and at 50 for 5 their hopes had effectively evaporated.
Siddique later returned to dismantle the lower order, claiming two wickets in the 16th over to finish with figures of 4 for 23. Oman were eventually bowled out for 130, handing UAE a much-needed victory to revive their campaign.
