August 18th, Dubai: New Zealand beat the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the first of a three-match Twenty20 International series in Dubai on Thursday, thanks in large part to a half-century from Tim Seifert and a blistering five-wicket haul by bowler Tim Southee.
With this victory, New Zealand now has a 1-0 lead against the United Arab Emirates, who pushed them to their very boundaries.
Chad Bowes, New Zealand’s opener, was out on the opening pitch after the UAE elected to bowl.
Seifert and wicketkeeper-batsman Dane Cleaver then began to rebuild the innings, with Seifert taking the initiative in the offence.
However, Kiwis lost Cleaver for just four runs at the conclusion of the powerplay after six overs. After six overs, New Zealand was 5 for 2.
With two fours and three sixes, Seifert reached his fifty in only 30 balls.
With the aid of a catch by Aayan Afzal Khan, Basil Hameed ended Seifert’s innings with the score at 55 after 34 balls. New Zealand was in a precarious position at 60/3 after 7.1 overs.
With Chapman (8 not out) and Jimmy Neesham (3 not out) still at the crease, the Kiwis finished the 10 overs at 73 for 4. After early losses of Mitchell Santner (2) and Mark Chapman (15), they seemed to be in deep danger. New Zealand collapsed to 85/5 after 12.1 overs. Quickly altering the game for the Kiwis was Basil’s acquisition of Seifert and Santner.
In spite of this, Neesham and Cole McConchie kept fighting, and their 100 runs were achieved in only 14 overs.
Neesham scored 25 runs off of 22 balls before being dismissed by Junaid Siddique, ending their brief 24-run partnership. In 15.2 overs, New Zealand had 109 runs and 6 wickets.
McConchie (31 not out in 24 balls with one four) and Rachin Ravindra (21 not out in 11 balls with one four and a six) put on 46 runs to enable the Kiwis reach 155 for six in 20 overs.
Fantastic deliveries from Basil (2/30) and Junaid (2/35) helped restrict a threatening New Zealand cricket team to a low score. One wicket was taken by each of Zahoor Khan and Mohammed Faraazuddin.
Southee removed Vriitya Aravind (13) and UAE captain Muhammad Waseem (lbw) on the first delivery of their innings, reducing them to 15/2 in 2.4 overs as they attempted to chase 156.
UAE raced to the 50-run mark in only 5.4 overs, thanks in large part to wicketkeeper-batter Aryansh Sharma and opening batsman Asif Khan.
Santner bowled Asif for 13 to end their 47-run partnership. After seven overs, UAE was 62/3.
UAE were 84/4 with Aryansh (43) and Ansh Tandon (12) still not out at the halfway point of their innings.
In just 34 balls, Aryansh hit 50, including seven fours and a six.
The United Arab Emirates’ lack of experience shone through once again as they blew a commanding lead by losing wickets quickly to Southee, Santner, and Neesham. It took the UAE 12.4 overs to score 100 runs, and they lost 4 wickets along the way. UAE were 115/6 after 15 overs, requiring 41 runs in the last four overs, when Aryansh was dismissed for 60 off 43 balls, including nine fours and a six.
Ali Naseer (16) and the rest of the lower order gave it their all, but the United Arab Emirates were bowled out for 136 in 19.4 overs, losing by 19 runs.
Five wickets fell to Southee for 25 runs in four overs, two to Neesham and Santner for 26 runs in 4.2 overs, and one to the returning Kyle Jamieson for 20 runs in 2.4 overs.
For his efforts, Southee was named “Player of the Match.”
