Aryansh, Shoaib orchestrate stunning UAE jailbreak

The United Arab Emirates pulled off a nail-biting five-wicket victory over Canada with just two balls to spare at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, keeping alive their hopes of qualifying out of a group that includes New Zealand, South Africa and Afghanistan. Chasing 151, UAE found themselves in trouble at 66 for 4 in the 13th over, but a breathtaking fifth-wicket partnership between Aryansh Sharma (74* off 53) and Sohaib Khan (51 off 29) turned the contest on its head. The pair added 84 runs off just 42 deliveries, transforming what looked like a routine Canadian victory into a crushing defeat.

Aryansh, who batted through the innings, anchored the chase with remarkable composure for a wicketkeeper-batter playing only his second T20 World Cup match. His 53-ball knock, laced with six boundaries and three sixes, was a masterclass in pacing a tricky chase. But it was Sohaib Khan's whirlwind knock that truly sealed the deal, a stunning 51 off 29 balls that included four fours and four towering sixes.

Even with Aryansh passing a half-century, UAE were well off the target, needing 63 to get from the final five overs of the chase. The game turned around dramatically in the 17th over when Sohaib took on Dilon Heyliger for two sixes and a four, wiping out 17 runs from the target. Sohaib continued his assault in the next over, tonking Jaskaran Singh for another four and a six before scampering across for a two despite slipping at the end of the first run.

Twenty Six runs still remained to be scored off the final two overs but an 18-run 19th over effectively sealed the game. Sohaib fell to Jaskaran Singh with the scores level at 150, holing out to Nicholas Kirton at mid-on. But Muhammad Arfan calmed nerves by hitting the winning runs, sending the UAE dugout into rapturous celebration.

Earlier, Canada's innings had been built on contrasting foundations. After being reduced to 38 for 3 inside the PowerPlay, Harsh Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal resurrected the innings with a vital 58-run partnership. Thaker, playing with increasing authority, reached his half-century off 40 balls, before falling off the very next delivery.

Shreyas Movva chipped in with a useful 21 at number six, and a six off the final ball by Heyliger pushed Canada to 150 for 7 - a total that looked competitive on a slightly two-paced Delhi surface. Junaid Siddique was the architect of Canada's bowling effort, claiming a magnificent five-wicket haul. The right-arm seamer varied his pace brilliantly, dismissing both openers early before returning to clean up the middle and lower order for figures of 5 for 35, the second-best figures by an Associate bowler in T20 World Cups. As it turned out, all those runs he saved proved vital in UAE's eventual success.

Brief scores:Canada 150/7 in 20 overs (Harsh Thaker 50; Junaid Siddique 5-35) lost to UAE 151/5 in 19.4 overs (Aryansh Sharma 74*, Sohaib Khan 51; Saad Bin Zafar 3-14) by five wickets.