Batters Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz hit half centuries in Pakistan's 31-run win against UAE
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz hit blistering half centuries to lead Pakistan to a 31-run victory against United Arab Emirates in the Twenty20 Tri-series in Sharjah on Saturday.Left-handed batter Ayub made 69 off 38 balls and Nawaz smashed six sixes in his 26-ball 56.AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementPakistan scored a total of 207 in 20 overs after captain Salman Ali Agha won his second successive toss and chose to bat.Middle-order batter Asif Khan celebrated his 50th T20 appearance for UAE with an aggressive innings of 77 off 35 balls but Pakistan kept chipping away with wickets to restrict UAE to 176-8.Both teams will face off at least once more in the tri-series before competing in the Asia Cup, starting from Sept. 9 where UAE is placed alongside India, Pakistan and Hong Kong.Pakistan didn’t tinker with its long batting line-up — with all-rounder Faheem Ashraf slotted at No. 8 — but rested two premier fast bowlers Haris Rauf, who bagged a four-wicket haul in Pakistan's win against Afghanistan on Friday, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementHasan Ali, who replaced Rauf, was expensive at 3-47. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz (2-21) again bowled economically with fast bowler Salman Mirza and Ayub sharing one wicket apiece.UAE captain Muhammad Waseem (33 off 18) provided the team with a strong start before the hosts slipped to 54-3 in the powerplay. Waseem was run out while going for a third run and, on the next ball, Ethan D’Souza gloved a leg-side catch off Ali.Khan didn’t hold back against pacers and left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem (0-44) as he smacked six fours and six sixes before Sahibzada Farhan grabbed a one-handed diving catch at square leg in Ali’s final over.Earlier, Ayub played the UAE spinners cautiously in the powerplay, but was aggressive against the pace of Junaid Siddique, who conceded 22 runs in his second over.AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementPakistan lost Farhan (8) in the first over when Siddique clipped the top of his off stump and Fakhar Zaman (6) got deceived by spinner Haider Ali’s ball as he was clean bowled while attempting a sweep shot.But Ayub raised his half century off 25 balls before fast bowler Saghir Khan (3-44) had him caught down the legside in the 12th over. Ayub wasn’t happy with the umpire’s decision, but there was no review available.Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz (25) accelerated with a breezy 57-run partnership off just 25 balls before Hasan, who reached his fifty in 24 deliveries, was caught behind while trying to pull left-arm spinner Ali (2-32).Siddique grabbed two wickets in Pakistan’s final over and No. 11 batter Mirza was run out off the final ball of the innings.Afghanistan will take on UAE on Monday after Sunday’s rest day.The final is on Sept. 7.___AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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