UAE win Gulf Cup title with thrilling victory over Kuwait

UAE

The UAE had defeated Kuwait in an acrimonious final to win the Gulf T20I Championship in Dubai on Saturday night. The UAE had to bat well for a small 153 and put on a brilliant 2-run win that was a memorable match in their cricket history. 

The innings started tentatively for the home team and the opening batsman Tanish Suri put in an early stand with 34 runs. The contributions of Alishan Sharafu and Rahul Chopra (28 each) were a bit of stabilisation but the UAE’s batting corps was unable to forge good partnerships. 

Asif Khan, who looked promising, didn’t have a chance and the team was exposed to a disciplined Kuwait bowling attack. Yasin Patel and Sayed Monib were Kuwait’s two favorite bowlers who took three wickets each while all-rounder Meet Bhaskar picked up two key scalps to restrict the UAE to 153 for nine in 20 overs. 

Kuwait’s chase started with a vengeance and it was Meet Bhaskar who held the fort, putting on 72 in 54 balls. He held Kuwait in thrall, as wickets fell at will. 

It came down to the last over, and Kuwait were going for seven and they had two wickets. Dubai pacer Muhammad Jawadullah stepped up and played a beautiful over on a plate of ice. Jawadullah took out Bhaskar and Mohamed Shafeeq in the same order, scoring two for the UAE. His late-over feat gave him the much deserved Man of the Match title. 

It was the bowling group of the UAE that kept the low score at bay. Jawadullah was well looked after by all-rounder Ali Naseer and Simranjeet Kang who each picked up two wickets and kept Kuwait in the grove. 

At the same stage of the tournament, the UAE have dominated the league phase and they are at the top of the six team table having won four out of five games. Neither team was worse than Kuwait in second place and made it to the final. 

The UAE showed once again their determination and ability to play in an environment of high pressure, which is what made the Gulf T20I Championship final such a triumph for UAE. It was the team’s camaraderie, tactical genius and Jawadullah’s final over that will remain on the memories as their moment of triumph. 

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