UAE Secures First T20 World Cup Victory with Dominant Performance Against Canada
In a thrilling encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marked their opening win in the ongoing T20 World Cup by defeating Canada by six wickets on Friday. The match was highlighted by a spectacular five-wicket haul from pace bowler Junaid Siddique and a match-winning 84-run partnership between opener Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan.
Junaid Siddique's Fiery Spell Decimates Canadian Batting Lineup
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Canada struggled from the outset on a pitch that offered consistent pace and bounce. Their innings never gained momentum, with the powerplay yielding only 39 runs for the loss of three wickets. Boundaries were scarce, and the first six overs produced just four fours and no sixes.
Junaid Siddique emerged as the chief destroyer for UAE, exploiting the conditions with sharp pace and awkward bounce. He dismantled Canada's top order early, removing Yuvraj Samra (5) and Dilpreet Bajwa (11). Despite a middle-order revival led by Harsh Thaker, who scored a resilient 50, and contributions from Navneet Dhaliwal (34) and Shreyas Movva (21), Siddique returned in the death overs to claim crucial wickets. He dismissed Thaker, Movva, and Saad Bin Zafar (5) to finish with figures of 5/35, the second five-wicket haul of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Canada's innings was further marred by an unfortunate run-out of Dhaliwal, who was caught short due to his bat getting stuck outside the crease. They managed to post 150/7 in 20 overs, but the lack of sustained tempo proved costly.
Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan Steer UAE to Victory in Tense Chase
Chasing a target of 151, UAE faced early setbacks, stumbling to 66/4 with Harshit Kaushik's dismissal deepening the crisis. However, opener Aryansh Sharma held firm, providing stability with a composed innings. The turning point came when Sohaib Khan joined him at the crease, injecting much-needed aggression into the chase.
Sohaib Khan unleashed a blistering assault, smashing 17 runs off the 17th over bowled by Dilon Heyliger and adding 13 more in the 18th over. His explosive knock of 51 off just 28 balls shifted the momentum decisively in UAE's favor. With the equation reduced to 26 runs required off 12 balls, Aryansh Sharma joined the onslaught, contributing to an 18-run over that brought victory within reach.
A six off the first ball of the 19th over effectively sealed the win, though Sohaib fell to Jaskarandeep Singh with the scores level. Aryansh Sharma remained unbeaten on 74, guiding UAE to 151/5 in 19.4 overs and securing their first points in the tournament.
Key Takeaways and Match Impact
This victory not only boosts UAE's confidence in the T20 World Cup but also underscores their potential as a competitive side. Junaid Siddique's bowling mastery and the dynamic batting partnership between Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan were instrumental in overcoming a resilient Canadian team. For Canada, despite Thaker's fighting half-century, their inability to accelerate and contain UAE's late surge led to a disappointing start in the competition.
Brief Scores:
- Canada: 150/7 in 20 overs (Harsh Thaker 50, Navneet Dhaliwal 34; Junaid Siddique 5/35, Muhammad Jawadullah 1/16)
- UAE: 151/5 in 19.4 overs (Aryansh Sharma 74 not out, Sohaib Khan 51; Saad Bin Zafar 3/14)
- Result: UAE won by five wickets
