Bangladesh suffered a dramatic defeat as the UAE made cricket history with a stunning performance. In a match full of surprises, the underdogs outplayed Bangladesh in every department, marking a proud and unforgettable moment for UAE cricket fans.
Bangladesh Post Big Total with Strong Batting Performance
Bangladesh looked strong from the start in the second T20 match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Their openers gave a solid start, scoring 90 runs without losing a wicket in just 9 overs. Tanjid Hasan batted well and scored 59 runs, while Liton Das added 40 off 32 balls. Towhid Hridoy continued his good form with 45 runs off just 24 balls, hitting two sixes and three fours. Zaker Ali also gave a strong finish, scoring 18 runs from just 6 balls.
With this powerful performance, Bangladesh reached a big score of 205 for 5 in their 20 overs. After 24 T20 matches, this was finally a 200+ score again for Bangladesh.
UAE Openers Fire Back in Stunning Chase
UAE did not back down. Their openers, Muhammad Wasim and Muhammad Zohaib, matched Bangladesh’s energy. In the first 9 overs, they also scored 96 runs without losing a wicket. Wasim led the attack, smashing 82 runs, while Zohaib added 38 runs.
Despite some good bowling later in the innings by Tanvir Islam, who removed Zohaib, and Rishad Hossain, who dismissed Rahul Chopra, UAE kept fighting. Even after Bangladesh’s bowlers took a few more wickets, the Emirates needed 29 runs from the last two overs.
Nerve-Wracking Final Over Seals Historic Win
The real drama came in the final overs. In the 19th over, Shariful Islam took a wicket but gave away 17 runs, leaving UAE with only 12 to win in the final over. Tanzim Sakib started the over with a wide and then gave a six on the second ball. He managed to take a wicket next, but UAE needed just 4 runs from 4 balls.
In an exciting finish, Haider Ali, playing only his second T20 international, kept his cool. On the second last ball, he hit a ‘no ball’ delivery and then scored the winning runs by taking two runs, finishing with 15* off 6 balls. Towhid Hridoy’s slow throw-in gave UAE the win, although Haider was almost run out.
This was UAE’s first-ever win in T20 cricket against a Test-playing nation. It was also the highest run chase by an associate team in T20Is against a full-member side.
Bangladesh’s Missed Chances and Bowling Struggles
Bangladesh had many chances to win the game but made costly mistakes. Nahid Rana, making his T20 debut, bowled two ‘no balls’ in his first over and gave away 18 runs. Shariful, Rishad, and Tanzim also gave away runs with poor deliveries. The fielders missed easy catches, especially dropping Sagir Khan three times in one over!
After dismissing Wasim in the 15th over, Bangladesh looked to take control, but dropped catches and poor bowling in the death overs let them down.
Series Level at 1-1, Final Match Decider Next
With this historic win, the 3-match T20 series is now tied at 1-1. The third and final match will be held in Sharjah on Wednesday. Bangladesh now face pressure to avoid an embarrassing series loss against a lower-ranked side.
Score Table:
| Team | Score | Top Scorers | Top Bowlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 205/5 (20 overs) | Tanjid 59, Hridoy 45, Liton 40 | Jawadullah 3/45, Sagir 2/36 |
| UAE | 206/8 (19.5 overs) | Wasim 82, Zohaib 38, Haider 15* | Rishad 2/28, Shariful 2/34, Nahid 2/50 |
Result: United Arab Emirates won by 2 wickets
Player of the Match: Muhammad Wasim
Series Status: 3-match series tied at 1-1
This match will be remembered as a proud day for UAE cricket and a big lesson for Bangladesh, who now need to regroup quickly for the series decider.
