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In an entertaining Group D encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium, United Arab Emirates (UAE) defeated Canada by five wickets in a tense chase on Friday. After restricting Canada to 150/7, UAE rode on a brilliant knock from Aryansh Sharma and a late flourish from Sohaib Khan to seal the target in 19.4 overs, finishing at 151/5.
Harsh Thaker powers Canada to a respectable total
Having won the toss, Canada opted to bat first but found themselves under early pressure. Yuvraj Samra departed cheaply for 5, while Dilpreet Bajwa’s brisk 11 off 11 balls failed to provide lasting momentum. Navneet Dhaliwal tried to stabilize the innings with a composed 34 off 28 deliveries, striking four boundaries, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals.
Nicholas Kirton managed just 4, leaving Canada in need of a partnership to rebuild. Harsh Thaker answered the call with a patient yet impactful 50 off 41 balls, including two fours and three towering sixes. His innings anchored Canada’s total at a time when scoring looked difficult. Shreyas Movva contributed 21 off 21 balls, rotating strike but unable to accelerate significantly in the death overs.
Junaid Siddique sizzles with a 5-wicket haul
A late cameo from Dillon Heyliger, who smashed a six in his unbeaten 6 off just one ball, helped Canada reach 150/7 at the end of their 20 overs — a competitive but slightly underwhelming total on a good batting surface.
The standout performer with the ball for UAE was Junaid Siddique, who delivered a sensational spell of 5/35 in his four overs. His timely breakthroughs disrupted Canada’s rhythm and ensured they never truly broke free. Muhammad Jawadullah was equally impressive, conceding just 16 runs in his four overs and picking up a wicket to apply further pressure.
Aryansh Sharma, Sohaib Khan propel UAE to a brilliant run-chase
Chasing 151, UAE had a shaky start as Waseem Muhammad fell early for 4. Alishan Sharafu and Mayank Rajesh Kumar also failed to convert their starts, leaving the chase delicately poised. However, Aryansh Sharma stood firm at one end. The opener played a mature and commanding innings, scoring 74 off 53 balls with six fours and three sixes. His ability to pace the innings and absorb pressure proved crucial.
Harshit Kaushik chipped in with a small contribution before Sohaib joined Aryansh at a vital juncture. What followed was a counterattacking display from Sohaib, who smashed 51 off just 29 balls, hammering four boundaries and four sixes. His aggressive strokeplay shifted the momentum decisively in UAE’s favor.
Canada fought back through Saad Bin Zafar, who delivered an exceptional spell of 3/14 in four overs, briefly reviving hopes of a comeback. Kaleem Sana and Jaskaran Singh Buttar also picked up a wicket each, but the target proved just within UAE’s reach. In the end, Muhammad Arfan nudged the winning run with two balls to spare, sealing a valuable five-wicket victory for UAE.
UAE snatched the victory right from Canada's hands to seal the win 🙌
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
