Bahrain suffered an eight-wicket loss to the UAE yesterday in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Sub Regional Qualifier B, being played in Doha, Qatar.
The Emiratis proved their superiority with their unbeaten record and with their emphatic victory against their Gulf rivals.
With a near-perfect chase, the UAE comfortably hunted down Bahrain’s modest total of 135/7, finishing the match with 138/2 in just 19.3 overs.
Bahrain, opting to bat first at the University of Doha for Science and Technology, could never quite get the momentum they needed. After a rocky start, with Umer Toor (one) falling early, the team struggled to form significant partnerships. Imran Anwar (30) and Haider Butt (35) tried to revive the innings, but regular wickets fell, with the final total of 135/7 giving little hope for a fightback.
UAE’s bowlers were in complete control, with Junaid Siddique leading the charge with three wickets for just 23 runs from his four overs. Dhruv Parashar (1/20) and Muhammad Jawadullah (1/31) also contributed effectively, ensuring that Bahrain never reached any real scoring rhythm.
In reply, UAE’s chase was powered by a stellar knock from Alishan Sharafu, who held the innings together with an unbeaten 77 off 58 balls. Sharafu’s composed innings, laced with six fours and four sixes, showed maturity beyond his years as he guided his side to victory. Rahul Chopra (46) gave him excellent support at the other end, adding an unbroken 92-run partnership to seal the match with ease.
Despite a brief scare early on, with UAE losing both openers – Muhammad Waseem (zero) and Asif Khan (nine) – inside the first four overs, Sharafu’s calmness and Chopra’s calculated approach ensured Bahrain’s bowlers were rendered ineffective.
Bahrain’s best efforts with the ball came from Abdul Majid, who was outstanding in his four-over spell, conceding just 14 runs while picking up the important wicket of Asif Khan. But it wasn’t enough to stop UAE’s march to victory.
Sharafu was the undisputed star of the show and was later named Player of the Match. His ability to anchor the chase while keeping the scoreboard ticking demonstrated why he is one of the most promising talents in UAE cricket.
Speaking post-match, Sharafu said: “I just focused on taking it ball by ball and backing myself. The team has been in great form, and it feels amazing to finish the job for them today.”
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