Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers: Kuwait Beats UAE by 1 Wicket in a Nailbiter

In the second match of the Asia Cup Qualifiers 2022 on Sunday in Al Amerat, Kuwait defeated UAE by one wicket with one ball left to play (August 21). At 111 for 6 after 14 overs, Kuwait was in serious difficulty while attempting to chase down 174. But Edson Silva (25 off 14) and captain Mohammed Aslam (19 off 11) delivered impressive cameos to spur the chasing team.

Yasin Patel hit the first ball from Kashif Daud for a maximum when nine runs were needed off the final over. Sayed Monib was run out for 8 runs, and UAE was shocked when Mohamed Shafeeq (4*) hit the game-winning four off the penultimate delivery.

Chasing a challenging goal, Kuwait had a strong start, putting 53 runs together for the first wicket as Meet Bhavsar and Ravija Sandaruwan attacked the UAE bowlers. The fielding side responded, though, by hitting two balls in quick succession in the seventh over. Basil Hameed, an off-spinner, had Bhavsar stumped for 27 runs before dismissing Adnan Idrees (0) on the very next delivery.

The well-positioned Sandaruwan was returned for 34 by left-arm spinner Ahmed Raza, dealing Kuwait another devastating blow. Usman Patel shown strong form when he was in the crease but was dismissed by Zahoor Khan for a fast 21 runs off of 14. When Shiraz Khan was caught behind for 7 by Junaid Siddique at the conclusion of the 12th over, UAE was comfortably in the lead.

Hameed recorded his third wicket as he got Bilal Tahir caught behind for nine. The chasing team then staged an incredible fightback led by Silva and Aslam. In the 15th over, Aslam smacked Rohan Mustafa for two fours and a six off of successive deliveries. Silva hit a six and a four in the following Siddique over.

When Aslam was run out at the end of the 16th over, Kuwait’s chances took a hit. Silva, though, managed to keep the pursuing team in the game by hitting Zahoor with a four and a six. For the final three overs, the equation was reduced to a run-a-ball situation. The lower-order made sure Silva’s exertion was not in vain even though he wasn’t there to see the side through.