DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav and seamer Shivam Dube helped limit the United Arab Emirates to 57 runs as India swept to a nine-wicket win in the Asia Cup on Wednesday.
Kuldeep baffled batters with his sharp googlies and bagged 4-7 while Dube claimed 3-4 to dismiss UAE in 13.1 overs — the lowest-ever T20 total against India.
In the Group A game, India cruised to 60-1 in just 4.3 overs with opening batter Abhishek Sharma (30) showing flashes of his skillful power-hitting and Shubman Gill scoring an unbeaten 20.
UAE folds without a fight
UAE batters had no answer for India’s relentless bowling attack despite Jasprit Bumrah showing signs of rustiness in his first T20 game since the World Cup last year.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav believed his team was “flexible” when India won the toss and the skipper chose to field. India had lost the toss in 15 consecutive games.
Alishan Sharafu (22) and captain Muhammad Waseem (19) gave UAE a reasonable start of 41-2 in the powerplay before the batters crumbled against Kuldeep’s sharp spin and Dube warmed up for more tougher games ahead in the tournament with a three-wicket haul.
Bumrah nailed Sharafu will his trademark smearing yorker in the second over and Mohammad Zohaib sliced a catch to backward point when he tried to play Varun Chakravarthy inside out.
Kuldeep’s three-wicket over, that included a plumb leg before wicket dismissal of Waseem, rattled UAE middle-order before Dube claimed three wickets in his two overs and UAE folded with more than six overs to spare.
India called back No. 10 batter Junaid Siddique after wicketkeeper Sanju Samson had him stumped when the batter strolled out of his crease after he missed a pull shot of Dube.
India accepted Siddique’s clarification that he came out of his crease to explain that he got distracted with a rag falling from the pocket of Dube.
However, Siddique couldn’t open his account as he fell of the next legitimate ball of Dube when Suryakumar held onto a high catch at mid-on.
Kuldeep finished off the innings when he had Haider Ali caught behind.
India’s quick chase
Left-handed Abhishek showed how quickly he could unsettle the bowlers in the powerplay when he smashed spinner Ali’s first ball for a six over wide extra cover with his trademark inside out shot. He smashed three sixes and two boundaries in his 16-ball knock.
India needed only 10 runs when Abhishek miscued Siddique’s short ball and got caught at wide mid-wicket but Suryakumar smashed Siddique over fine-leg for a six off the first ball he faced.
Gill then completed the victory with a boundary to mid-on of Simranjeet Singh as UAE slumped to heavy defeat in the group that also include Pakistan and first-timer Oman.
India routs UAE for 57 to notch 9-wicket win in Asia Cup
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India routs UAE for 57 to notch 9-wicket win in Asia Cup
- UAE batters had no answer for India’s relentless bowling attack
Farooqi and Bairstow power MI Emirates to dominant win over Knight Riders in ILT20
- Emirates cruise to victory with 7 overs to spare after Knight Riders posted a total of just 122 all out
- A superb bowling display sets up the win, with Fazalhaq Farooqi delivering the standout performance as he claims 4 for 14
ABU DHABI: MI Emirates climbed to third place in the DP World ILT20 standings after cruising to a seven-wicket victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday, after a wobble that had left them with just one win from their first three games.
A superb bowling display set up the win, with Fazalhaq Farooqi delivering the standout performance of the match. The left-arm seamer claimed 4 for 14, with Kamindu Mendis adding three wickets as Knight Riders were dismissed for just 122 in 19.3 overs.
Chasing this modest target, Mohammed Waseem provided the early momentum for MI Emirates with a blistering 27 off 12 balls, smashing three sixes in a single over before falling to Ajay Kumar.
Nicholas Pooran departed cheaply but then Jonny Bairstow took control of the innings with an assured, unbeaten 49 off 38 deliveries, including seven fours.
As Bairstow accelerated with his flurry of boundaries off Kumar, Tom Banton contributed 29 off 20 deliveries in a 64-run partnership that effectively ended the contest by the ninth over.
Banton fell to Khary Pierre, making way for Mendis, who finished on 10 not out off seven deliveries and ended the chase in style with a six off Olly Stone, sealing the victory in only 13.5 overs.
Earlier, Knight Riders had started brightly through Phil Salt and Alex Hales, but their early aggression quickly faded. Romario Shepherd removed Salt, and Farooqi dismissed Hales as the side slumped to 37 for 2 by the end of the Powerplay.
Brandon McMullen, Alishan Sharafu and Liam Livingstone all struggled to build momentum against some tight bowling. Sharafu top-scored with 38 off 34 deliveries, including a brief 36-run stand with Sunil Narine, who contributed 26, but the wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
Mendis removed Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford in quick succession, while Rashid Khan accounted for Sharafu. Farooqi then returned to dismantle the tail, taking two wickets in the final over to complete a clinical spell.
MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard said his side “needed those points,” adding: “Today was a professional effort from everyone … It is about reminding the guys of what’s important: to play consistently and play well.”
Knight Riders skipper Jason Holder admitted his team had fallen short with the bat: “122 was never going to be enough. Execution has been our biggest issue. Many of our players got starts but didn’t carry on, and we never built a partnership.”
MI Emirates now sit in third place on four points, two behind Gulf Giants and four behind leaders the Desert Vipers. Knight Riders are second-bottom on two points with only one win from four matches.
