3RD T20I

New Zealand 166/5 (Young 56, Siddique 3/26) defeated United Arab Emirates 134/7 (Ayaan 42, Lister 3/35) by 32 runs.

The series finale will take place at the same venue on Sunday, offering an exciting conclusion to this competitive encounter.

Tim Southee’s spell culminated in a stunning five-wicket haul, ultimately claiming Hameed’s wicket upon his return. Adding to the spectacle, Santner showcased exceptional skill by dismissing Asif through a remarkable return catch, cementing New Zealand’s dominance.

Scotland witnessed a thrilling and dramatic victory over Ireland at the World Cup Qualifier as Michael Leask played a pivotal role, smashing an unbeaten 91 off just 61 balls, including the final ball of the match. The encounter took place in Bulawayo, where Scotland found themselves in a precarious situation at 152/7 in the 34th over while chasing a challenging target of 287. However, Leask’s outstanding innings ensured a victorious start to their campaign.

On the other hand, Ireland faced a disheartening defeat, marking their second consecutive loss in Group B after being beaten by Oman in their opening match. With the World Cup Qualifier featuring ten teams, only two will qualify for the main tournament scheduled for October and November in India.

Reflecting on the remarkable victory, Leask expressed his joy, especially considering the past challenging encounters with Ireland. He emphasized the unity and strength of the team, highlighting that this victory is just the beginning of their journey, and they will continue to play with resilience.

Scotland aims to rectify the disappointments of the previous qualifying tournament in 2018, where they narrowly missed out on a spot in the World Cup due to a controversial lbw decision and untimely rain, resulting in a heartbreaking defeat against the West Indies. Similarly, Ireland faced a similar fate, failing to qualify after participating in the previous three World Cups.

Meanwhile, Oman currently leads the Group B table, having secured two consecutive wins, including a five-wicket triumph over the United Arab Emirates.

For Ireland, the defeat against Scotland has put them in a precarious position, and they may need to defeat former world champions Sri Lanka in their upcoming game to keep their hopes alive. Scotland, on the other hand, is set to face the UAE in their next match.

In another match, the UAE posted a total of 227/8, with Aayan Afzal Khan contributing an unbeaten 58. However, Oman comfortably chased down the target with four overs to spare, thanks to fifties from Aqib Ilyas, Shoaib Khan, and Mohammad Nadeem.

Sikandar Raza’s exceptional all-round performance proved pivotal as Zimbabwe clinched a resounding six-wicket victory over the Netherlands in their Cricket World Cup Group A qualifier on Tuesday.

After displaying his prowess with the ball by securing four Dutch wickets, Raza further showcased his talent with the bat, hammering an entertaining unbeaten century off a mere 54 deliveries. This remarkable feat not only earned him accolades but also etched his name as the Zimbabwean player with the fastest hundred in one-day internationals (ODIs).

Batting first, the Netherlands set a formidable target of 315 for six wickets, with Vikramjit Singh contributing 88 runs, skipper Scott Edwards adding 83, and Max O’Dowd scoring 59. Saqib Zulfiqar’s unbeaten 34 off 34 balls further bolstered their total within the allotted 50 overs at Harare Sports Club.

Raza emerged as the standout bowler, claiming four wickets for 55 runs in his ten overs. Zimbabwe’s run chase appeared comfortable throughout, thanks to Sean Williams’ rapid 91 off 58 balls, supported by the contributions of openers Craig Ervine (50 runs) and Joylord Gumbie (40 runs).

Ultimately, it was Raza who sealed the victory in style, smashing a winning six over mid-off, clearing the boundary with a strike of immense power. His display of aggressive batting included three consecutive sixes off Shariz Ahmad.

“I just wanted to go out there,” expressed the 37-year-old Pakistani-born all-rounder, who secured the win with a significant 55 balls remaining. “The platform was already set, I just wanted to stay humble and respect every ball, but it was there, I went for it. As long as we win the game, we are happy, and we are happy for each other’s performance.”

In another Group A match, Nepal, who suffered an opening defeat to Zimbabwe, triumphed over the United States by six wickets. Shayan Jahangir, born in Karachi and serving as wicketkeeper, played a crucial role with an unbeaten century, helping the US team reach a total of 207 all out off 49 overs after recovering from a precarious 18 for four wickets. Sushant Modani (42) and Gajanand Singh (26) made notable contributions, but the remaining batsmen struggled, with only two reaching double digits. Karan Khatri Chhetri and Gulsan Jha combined to claim seven wickets for Nepal.

Nepal comfortably chased down the target, with Bhim Sharki’s unbeaten 77 and contributions of 39 runs each from Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee. They secured victory with 42 balls to spare, ending at 211 for four wickets.

The United States suffered their second defeat after previously losing to the West Indies in their opening game.

The tournament continues on Wednesday with Group B matches featuring Ireland against Scotland and Oman taking on the United Arab Emirates in Bulawayo.

Only two out of the ten participating teams in this three-week qualifier will secure a spot in the World Cup, scheduled to be held in India in October and November.

In a remarkable team performance, the West Indies emerged victorious in their series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), sealing a commanding 78-run win in the second one-day international on Tuesday.

Opening batsmen Brandon King and Johnson Charles set the tone with impressive half-centuries, propelling the West Indies to a total of 306 all out in their innings.

The West Indies bowlers then demonstrated their skill as they shared the wickets, causing the UAE’s batting line-up to stumble to 95/5. The UAE eventually finished their innings on 228/7 after the allotted 50 overs.

Looking ahead, the West Indies are now focused on the World Cup qualifying event set to take place in Zimbabwe from June 18, where the UAE will also be participating.

As two-time world champions, the West Indies have a strong track record in reaching the global showpiece. However, in the upcoming qualifier, only two out of the ten competing teams will secure a spot in the World Cup in India later this year.

“The key was always to take wickets and build pressure on the opposition,” commented West Indies captain Shai Hope. “Although we didn’t manage to wrap up the game earlier, I am still pleased with the victory.”

Johnson Charles provided a blazing start for the Windies, scoring a rapid 63 off just 47 balls, while Brandon King, following his century in the first ODI on Sunday, contributed 64 runs to the total.

After a slight collapse, all-rounder Odean Smith played a blistering knock of 37 runs off 24 deliveries, guiding the West Indies past the 300-run mark before they were bowled out on the last ball of their innings.

Smith also proved his worth with the ball, conceding only 27 runs in his eight economical overs and claiming a wicket. Spinners Kavem Hodge, Roston Chase, and Yannic Cariah combined to take five wickets among them.

Youngster Ali Naseer continued to impress for the UAE, scoring 57 runs from 53 balls, building on his fifty during his ODI debut over the weekend.

Afghanistan will travel to the United Arab Emirates next month to play a three-match T20 series. Due to this several players will be absent from the PSL starting on February 13.

In November last year, the two cricket boards signed an agreement that a three-match T20I series would be held in Abu Dhabi from February 16. The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) will provide logistical and infrastructural support to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will begin on February 13 with a match between Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars. As a result, Afghan players will miss the first part of the PSL.

Afghanistan will play a series of three Twenty20 matches every year with the UAE national team and in return, they will use the UAE venue to host home fixtures. Meanwhile, Afghanistan has also announced a 22-member squad for the tour of the United Arab Emirates.

This Emirates leg spinner became the fifth player to score a hat-trick in T20 World Cup.

Australia’s former star pacer Brett Lee scored a hat-trick against Bangladesh in 2007. There were three hat-tricks in last year’s World Cup. Ireland’s Curtis Campher scored a hat-trick against the Netherlands, Sri Lanka’s star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga against South Africa, and South Africa’s star pacer Kagiso Rabada scored a hat-trick against England.

Meiyappan scored his 39th hat-trick in T20 Internationals. Sri Lanka scored 152 runs for 8 wickets by batting earlier on Tuesday. Opener Pathum Nissanka scored 74 runs off 60 balls. Besides, Dhananjaya de Silva scored 33 runs off 21 balls. Emirates leg-spinner Meiyappan took 3 wickets for 19 runs. Zahoor Khan took 2 wickets.