DUBAI: Mohammad Nawaz wants to be a “proper all-rounder” after his batting blitz set up a thrilling win for Pakistan against arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup Super Four.
Chasing 182 for victory, Pakistan achieved the target with one ball and five wickets to spare in Dubai after Muhammad Rizwan hit 71 and Nawaz made 42.
Nawaz, a left-arm spinner who usually bats at eight but was promoted to number four, joined Rizwan when the score was 63-2 and the two put on a key stand.
The 28-year-old Nawaz smashed six fours and two sixes in his 20-ball knock to put the chase on track.
Nawaz, who returned bowling figures of 1-25 in India’s 181-7, also took three catches and was named man of the match.
“To play such an innings in a high-pressure game has definitely given me confidence,” Nawaz told reporters after Sunday’s victory in the regional T20 tournament which acts as a tune-up for the World Cup in October.
“I have got the opportunity to grow as a player and I will try my best to live up to the rising expectations.
“I will work hard and try to perform better as a proper all-rounder for the Pakistan team.”
Nawaz fell in the 16th over and soon Rizwan was out after his second successive half-century.
Khushdil Shah (unbeaten 14) and Asif Ali, who made 16 off eight balls, hauled Pakistan over the line in a tense final over as they avenged their loss to India earlier in the tournament.
“We wanted to take it as deep as we could because the kind of players we have in Khushdil and Asif, even if we need 10-12 runs per over, they can easily get it,” Rizwan said.
India’s Virat Kohli, who returned to form with 60 off 44 balls to hold the Indian innings together until he got run out in the last over, said Nawaz’s knock made the difference.
“They took a chance to promote him and extend his batting stay and if the situation gets difficult they have (recognized) batsmen left,” Kohli told reporters.
“So the way he batted it was a game-changing moment, the way I read the game.”
The top two teams in the Super Four, which also has Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, will make the Asia Cup final on September 11.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz wants to be ‘proper all-rounder’ after thrilling performance in Dubai
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Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz wants to be ‘proper all-rounder’ after thrilling performance in Dubai
- Nawaz, a left-arm spinner, joined Muhmmad Rizwan when the score was 63-2 and the two put on a key stand
- He also returned bowling figures of 1-25, took three catches and was named man of the match after victory against India
Saudi Arabia lose to Morocco in final group match of Arab Cup
- Green Falcons had already qualified for quarterfinals
- Oman eliminated despite victory over Comoros
DOHA: Morocco booked their place in the Arab Cup knockout stages after defeating Saudi Arabia on Monday, but Oman’s victory over Comoros in their final group game was not enough to keep their campaign alive.
Needing only a draw to progress, Morocco took all three points against the Green Falcons, who missed a crucial second-half penalty.
The Saudis, already through to the knockouts, made several changes and began brightly, coming close to opening the scoring inside six minutes when Saleh Abu Al-Shamat’s looping header clipped the crossbar.
Despite the early pressure, Morocco kept their composure and took the lead when Tarik Tissoudali teed up Karim El-Berkaoui to put the Atlas Lions in front.
Saudi Arabia pushed for an equalizer and were handed a golden opportunity midway through the second half when Amin Zahzouh fouled substitute Abdullah Al-Hamdan inside the penalty area.
But the striker’s attempt at a “Panenka” sailed over the crossbar.
In the group’s other match, Oman defeated Comoros but were eliminated after failing to make up the required goal difference.
Knowing victory alone would not be enough, Oman began aggressively, creating a string of first-half chances through Issam Al-Sabhi, Zahir Al-Aghbari and Jameel Al-Yahmadi, only to be denied by profligacy and Comoros goalkeeper Ali Ahamada.
The breakthrough arrived in calamitous fashion just before the interval as Ahamada was dispossessed by Al-Sabhi inside the 6-yard box, allowing the forward to shoot into an empty net.
Al-Sabhi then doubled Oman’s lead with a header just before the break.
Comoros rallied after the break through a fine individual effort from Nassuir Hamidou to reduce the deficit, but further chances went begging and Oman held on for victory.
Despite finishing with four points, Oman bowed out of the competition, while Comoros concluded their debut Arab Cup campaign with three straight defeats.
