Fifties from Aryansh, Sohaib fashion UAE five-wicket win over Canada at T20 World Cup

Published
0
UAE’s Aryansh Sharma (R) celebrates with teammates his team’s win at the end of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Canada and United Arab Emirates at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 13, 2026. — AFP
UAE’s Aryansh Sharma (R) celebrates with teammates his team’s win at the end of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Canada and United Arab Emirates at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 13, 2026. — AFP

United Arab Emirates (UAE) registered their first win of the T20 World Cup after half-centuries by Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan secured a five-wicket victory over Canada in a Group D match at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday.

Chasing 151 for victory, UAE slumped to 66-4 in the 13th over before a rapid 84-run stand between Aryansh and Sohaib set up their win with two balls to spare.

Aryansh made 74 not out, while Sohaib produced a 29-ball blitz of 51.

After electing to bat, Canada posted a competitive 150-7 with Harsh Thaker (50) and Navneet Dhaliwal (34) contributing useful runs.

UAE seamer Junaid Siddique claimed five of Canada’s seven wickets, conceding 35 runs in his four overs.

Left-arm spinner Saad Bin Zafar wrecked UAE’s top order, claiming the wickets of Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Kumar and Harshit Kaushik to put Canada on top, but Aryansh proved immovable and brought up his fifty off 41 balls.

Sohaib, who hit four sixes, put UAE’s chase back on track with a 28-ball fifty before falling in the final over.

UAE leapfrogged Afghanistan into third place in the group — behind New Zealand and South Africa, who are level on four points from two matches.

Opinion

Editorial

Fixing bond markets
Updated 01 Oct, 2026

Fixing bond markets

Pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, retail investors, and eventually, foreign investors must become bigger participants in the market.
Call centre rackets
01 Oct, 2026

Call centre rackets

A NUMBER of recent raids conducted by the authorities in different cities point to the growing threat fraudulent ...
Homeward bound
01 Oct, 2026

Homeward bound

FIVE months after Somali pirates captured an oil tanker carrying a 19-member multinational crew, Somali maritime...
Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...