Asked to bat first, Pakistan got off to a rocket start with openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan webbing a 98-run partnership for the first wicket. Saim scored impressive 56 runs, while Farhan added 63 runs off 54 deliveries. Kamran Ghulam also contributed with a quickfire 63 runs, supported by four sixes and as many fours. Meanwhile, Mohammad Haris added a valuable 55 runs to the team’s total. Although Pakistan were bundled out in 49.2 overs by the UAE, they had crossed the 300-run mark until then and eventually posted a formidable total of 309 runs.
For UAE, Jash Giyanani was the standout bowler, claiming four wickets for 50 runs in his quota of ten overs. Matiullah Khan, Nilansh Keswani, Ali Naseer, and Mohammed Faraazuddin also chipped in with crucial wickets.
Chasing a challenging target, UAE struggled to build partnerships and were bowled out for just 125 runs in 29.5 overs. Aryansh Sharma was the top scorer with 37 runs, supported by Jonathan Figy (25), but the duo failed to get their team through in the run chase. Qasim Akram was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, taking an impressive six wickets for just 26 runs in his quota of ten overs. Sufiyan Muqeem also contributed with three scalps.
Qasim played a major role in Pakistan emerging victorious against UAE by a commanding margin of 184 runs and was a the well-deserved ‘Player of the Match’ award for his exceptional bowling performance.
Pakistan will next face arch-rivals India in the 12th match of the tournament at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday (July 19).
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