Pakistan Reach Tri-Series Final as Ahmed Destroys UAE

Pakistan has booked their spot in the T20 tri-series final after crushing the United Arab Emirates 31-run in Sharjah thanks to leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who claimed a career-best 4-9 and Fakhar Zaman, who made an unbeaten 77. The overall performance showed that Pakistan was becoming more dominant in the tournament and continued the fantastic streak of positive run defenses to five matches in a row.

Fakhar Zaman also produced a brilliant innings that was the best practice before next week Asia Cup when he hit his first T20I half-century in 16 innings with an unbeaten 77 of 44 balls. The fortuitous timing of the breakthrough knock by the left-handed opener showed the shape and assurance that Pakistan will require next time around in the tournaments.

The smart choice of shots and measured aggression was the hallmark of Zaman, especially in the decisive last overs when Pakistan needed some speed. His collaboration with Mohammad Nawaz was decisive in turning the fine line into an overwhelming majority.

The importance of this milestone cannot be overemphasized to Zaman who had been waiting more than a year to get his first T20I fifty. The fact that he could hold the innings and keep the scoring going was a good sign of the mature attitude that Pakistan wants their older players to show.

Pakistan won the match on the basis of the phenomenal 6th-wicket partnership of Zaman and Mohammad Nawaz, which made Pakistan history of 6th-wicket partnership in T20I cricket. Their partnership of 91 lasts only 51 balls, but still, it was very resilient and aware of the tactics in the situation.

Mohammad Nawaz added what was lacking, a very timely 37 not out, just the finishing touch to Zaman’s aggression with judicious stroke-play and well-judged running of the wickets. His unbroken knock came with important boundary-hitting in the death overs which drove Pakistan past competitive scores.

The joint venture started when Pakistan was toiling at 80-5 at the 12th over and this would have plunged the whole of their innings. Rather, both batters demonstrated high levels of composure and counterattacked with a strike that entirely altered the dynamics of the match.

The end of the innings in Pakistan was truly spectacular as the last two overs brought 42 runs as both set batters fired with deadly shots at the bowlers of UAE. The boost was a sign that Pakistan was doing better in batting in death-overs with strategy coach Mike Hesson at the helm.

The debut of Junaid Siddique at the hands of Nawaz was especially harmful as, in the penultimate over, the left-hand bat managed to smash three consecutive fours followed by thumping the pacer over the cover in a 20-run burst that essentially closed the Pakistan total.

Zaman had finished the innings just in time, as he hit five straight fours in the last over of Mohammad Jawadullah, displaying remarkable diversity, two lap shots over the head of the wicketkeeper, two edges that flew to third man. His ability and opportunism in times of pressure were brought out through this brilliant finish.

Sloppy fielding in UAE also played a huge role in the ultimate Pakistan victory, as several dropped catches and misfields gave the Pakistani batters very important breaks. Zaman and Nawaz had been spared by being dropped by left-arm spinner Haider Ali in the outfield on two occasions in succession of the same ball.

Zaman had found it a costly matter to escape, and was put down by Alishan Sharafu on 39 in the middle of the off, before another misfield by Sharafu raised his half-century. These lapses in focus and action helped Pakistan to forge the alliances that would turn out to be decisive.

The fielding mistakes also demonstrated the close nature of T20I cricket where single opportunities can decide the results of matches. The failure of the UAE to take advantage of the opportunities that they created ultimately cost them any realistic shot at victory

The introduction by Abrar Ahmed to the tri-series was an instant success as the leg-spinner baffles the top-order batters of UAE with his variations and precision. In his debut in the series, Ahmed proved why he is regarded as one of the brightest spin bowling prospects of Pakistan.

His carrom balls and googlies were especially successful against the batters of UAE who had a bad time reading his variations during his spell. His first victim was Captain Mohammad Waseem who could not read the carrom ball and gave an easy catch in point during the second over of Ahmed.

The leg-spinner was commanding and his selection was also excellent, not giving up pressure during his spell, but nipping wickets at the right time. The tactical flexibility he offers to the bowling attack of Pakistan was demonstrated by his capability to bowl at various stages of the innings.

The magic cast by Ahmed virtually killed any realistic possibility of UAE triumph, taking away batters who were the main contenders at the time when alliances were about to form. Alishan Sharafu and Ethan D’Souza had a hard time creating any momentum when D’Souza scuttled out at deep square leg with just 9 out of 14 balls.

The decision made by the leg-spinner to come back and give another two marvelous overs was decisive as he picked up wickets of Asif Khan and Rahul Chopra in three balls before completing his stint with a wicket of Harshit Kaushik in his last ball. This disastrous turn of events reduced UAE to 102-5 in 15 overs.

The counter attack of 68 by Sharafu off 51 balls was too late to pose any threat to the total of Pakistan and his dismissal to the catch of Salman Ali Agha at mid-off was a death blow to the hopes of UAE. The innings were individual and not partnerships that could be reliably used to chase any T20I.

The win allowed Pakistan to continue the impressive tournament tradition of effective total defenses over five consecutive matches, either due to brilliant bowling games or adverse batting conditions in Sharjah. This trend indicates that there might be a need to make tactical changes to second batting teams.

The regular success of team defense shows that it is in the interests of team winning a toss and batting first to have serious benefits in the present circumstances. It was a good move by Pakistan to choose to bat first after winning the toss.

With this win Pakistan qualifies along with Afghanistan in the final although Afghanistan has already collected four points in their group matches. The winner will be decided after UAE plays against Afghanistan on Friday in the last league game.

Sunday promises an exciting ending of the tri-series with two teams that have been in an excellent form during the tournament. The overall victory of Pakistan shows that they are going into the final with confidence and momentum.
Preparation for Asia Cup.

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This performance is perfect preparation to Pakistani Asia cup campaign and several players are hitting form at the right moment. The fifty by Zaman and the good bowling performance of Ahmed are real confidence boosters leading up to the continental tournament.

The fact that the team has managed to work its way out of tough situations and seal victories in convincing fashion is an indication that the team is building the level of mental toughness it needs to succeed in a big tournament. The tri-series has furnished good match practice in the pressure condition.

The use of the batting powerplay in Afghanistan shows that coach, Mike Hesson, had influenced the thinking of the Pakistan team in their T20I strategy. Although they lost the game early on through wickets, the team never lost its aggressive purpose during the innings.

This aggression in going on offense against cricket despite the pressure, symbolizes a big change in the T20I philosophy of Pakistan. The findings indicate that this strategy is reaping good returns both individually and as a team.