Stellar batting and crucial wickets secure brilliant United Arab Emirates victory
Cricket fans witnessed a nail-biting finish at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday evening, as the United Arab Emirates secured a five-wicket win against Canada. This UAE vs Canada T20 World Cup group stage encounter kept spectators on the edge of their seats right down to the final over.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Canada put up a competitive total of 150 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. Harsh Thaker was the standout performer for the Canadian side, smashing a solid 50 off 41 deliveries, supported by Navneet Dhaliwal who added 34 runs. However, the Canadian batting lineup struggled to build massive partnerships due to a lethal bowling spell from Junaid Siddique. Securing an incredible Junaid Siddique 5 wickets haul while giving away just 35 runs, the star bowler single-handedly dismantled the middle order to keep the target within reach.
Chasing 151, the UAE faced early hiccups against a disciplined Canadian bowling attack. Saad Bin Zafar proved highly effective for Canada, taking three crucial wickets for just 14 runs to pile pressure on the top order. Despite these early setbacks, opener Aryansh Sharma anchored the chase perfectly. Earning massive praise in today's cricket news Odisha circles, Aryansh Sharma 74 not out off 53 balls became the backbone of the innings.
The momentum completely shifted when Sohaib Khan joined Sharma at the crease. Khan played a blistering, aggressive knock, hammering 51 runs off just 29 deliveries, which included four massive sixes. Their crucial partnership turned the tide, allowing the UAE to cross the finish line at 151 for 5 with only two balls to spare.
For his exceptional five-wicket performance that restricted Canada's total, Junaid Siddique was rightfully awarded Player of the Match. As the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 progresses, this hard-fought victory gives the United Arab Emirates crucial momentum in Group D. Fans tracking the Canada vs UAE cricket score will surely remember this match for its perfectly balanced battle between bat and ball.
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