On Saturday in Dubai, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem scored 55 runs to help his team beat New Zealand by seven wickets and tie the three-game T20 series.
On Saturday in Dubai, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem scored 55 runs to help his team beat New Zealand by seven wickets and tie the three-game T20 series. After again electing to bowl first and being given a target of 143 runs to win, the United Arab Emirates lost their opener Aryansh Sharma without scoring a run before Waseem and Vriitya Aravind (25) rescued the situation. Waseem batted for 29 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes off of left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner before skidding him to extra cover. With New Zealand’s captain Tim Southee on the receiving end of three boundary hits from Asif Khan in the 16th over, the Kiwis were able to celebrate a historic triumph with 26 balls to spare thanks to Khan’s unbroken 48.
New Zealand scored 142-8, with Mark Chapman’s 63 being the most valuable contribution.
The only other tourists to score in double digits were the opener, Chad Bowes, and Jimmy Neesham.
Aayan Afzal Khan bowled Santner and Dane Cleaver in consecutive deliveries, and then he had Bowes stumped to finish with figures of 3-20 against New Zealand’s top order.
New Zealand won the series opener on Thursday by a score of 19 runs. This Sunday marks the series finale at the exact location.
