WASEEM STEALS THE SHOW
UAE batter smashes 71 to help MI Emirates win big
UAE’s Muhammad Waseem, displaying his wide repertoire of aggressive strokes, produced a spectacular knock of 71 runs and steered MI Emirates to a 49-run win over Sharjah Warriors in the second match of the DP World ILT20 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium last night. He was backed by Nicholas Pooran’s 49 to help MI Emirates post a whopping total of 204 for 5 in 20 overs.
Waseem, who has been a consistent performer in franchise league matches and for the UAE team, made the home fans proud through his knock that came off just 39 balls with five boundaries and four sixes. Pooran’s 49 was scored off 30 balls with four sixes and two boundaries.
Sharjah Warriors wilted under the pressure of MI Emirates’ mammoth score. They had won the toss and elected to bowl. Waseem, opening with England’s Will Smeed, hit back-to-back boundaries off Naveen Ul Haq.
The first five overs produced 39 runs. Andre Fletcher accelerated the run flow in the sixth over hitting Siddiqui for three successive boundaries. This took the score past the 50-run mark as the pair had put on 47 runs for the second wicket.
Sixes galore
Another hard-hitter Pooran unleashed his six-hitting skills. He hit the first ball of the 11th over from Mohammad Nabi for a six while Waseem hit the third delivery for another six. More sixes followed with Pooran hitting Joe Denly over long on. Waseem too reached his half century in style hitting Moeen Ali for a six to mid-wicket. Eighteen runs each were scored off Ali’s over.
Waseem’ stupendous knock came to an end in the 15th over when he hit Nabi to Evin Lewis at deep midwicket for 71. At the end of the 15th over MI Emirates were 151 for 3 with skipper Kieron Pollard joining Pooran.
‘Hardwork is the key’
In the last five overs, MI Emirates scored 53 runs with Pooran getting out 49.
Chasing a run rate of 10.20, Sharjah were struggling at 69 for 4 needing another 136 from the last 10 overs. The required run rate rose to 13.60 and the pressure got on to them.
Speaking about his performance, MI Emirates’ leg-spinner Imran Tahir said, “I work very hard. If I do my homework then I am not worried about anything. I give everything I have every time I represent a team. Hardwork is the key for me. This game has given me a lot and it’s an honour to play for the MI brand.”
The Sharjah Warriors’ allrounder Chris Woakes expressed, “The MI Emirates had a better all-round performance than us today. But we’ll move forward and hopefully put things right in the next game. Imran picked up three wickets and bowled very well for the MI Emirates. His performance was a big difference in the game. We’ve another game tomorrow in a different venue so we have to adapt quickly.”