Monday 21 / October / 2024
MUSCAT: A destructive three-wicket over from Rasikh Salam and a blistering half-century off just 20 balls by Abhishek Sharma propelled India A to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over the UAE in a Group B match of the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup at the Oman Cricket Academy ground on Monday night.
This victory, India’s second in a row after their narrow win over Pakistan A in their opening group clash on Saturday, secured their place in the semifinals as they now are on top of the group with four points. Pakistan with one win and UAE also with one have two points each while Oman have yet to open their account. India next meet Oman while the winner of the Pakistan-UAE game will confirm the second team to move into the last four from the group.
Chasing a modest target of 108, India A had an early setback when Prabhsimran Singh (8) fell in the first over.
However, Sharma and captain Tilak Varma soon turned the tide in India’s favour.
Sharma launched a ferocious counterattack, smashing his half-century in just 20 balls, ending with 58 off 29 balls, including 8 fours and 3 sixes.
During the powerplay, India raced to 74 for 1, with Tilak providing steady support at the other end, contributing 21 off 17 balls. Their 73-run partnership is India A’s highest for the second wicket in T20s, breaking the record of 49 between Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.
Sharma also broke the record for most sixes in T20s for India A going past Prabhsimran’s three.
Despite the fall of both Varma and Sharma in quick succession, the target proved to be too small for the UAE to defend.
Nehal Wadhera (6 not out) and Ayush Badoni (12 not out) ensured there were no further hiccups as they guided India A to 108 for 3 in 10.3 overs, with Badoni blasting a six and a four to complete a dominant chase.
Earlier, UAE’s decision to bat first after winning the toss quickly backfired.
Openers Mayank Kumar (10) and Aryansh Sharma (1) were both dismissed cheaply, and Rasikh Salam’s devastating over - where he took three wickets in the sixth over of the innings - left UAE reeling at 40 for 5 inside the powerplay.
Basil Hameed (22 off 19) and Rahul Chopra attempted to rebuild the innings with a 41-run partnership. However, once Sharma broke the stand by dismissing Hameed, UAE’s innings unraveled.
Chopra fought a lone battle, top-scoring with a patient 50 off 50 balls, but with no support from the lower order, UAE were bowled out for 107 in 16.4 overs.
Ramandeep Singh took two wickets while Anshul Kamboj, Vaibhav Arora, Sharma and Nehal Wadhera picked a wicket apiece.
Brief scores: UAE: 107 in 16.5 overs (Rahul Chopra 50, Basil Hameed 22; Rasikh Salam 3/15) lost to India A: (Abhishek Sharma 58, Tilak Varma 21; Vishnu Sukumaran 1/10, Muhammad Farooq 1/16).
