Asia Cup T20 2016, Highlights: Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh Power India to Nine-Wicket Win vs UAE
A mere total of 81/9 by UAE was too less for India. They came in and finished it in just 10.1 overs to stay unbeaten in the league games of the Asia Cup T20. Catch all the highlights of the match here
Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh continued their superb form as India crushed UAE in yet another low-scoring game of the Asia Cup T20. Catch all the highlights here. (SCORECARD | POINTS TABLE | NEWS | Asia Cup T20)
2155 hrs IST: QUOTES!
MS Dhoni: There is always scope for improvement in cricket. Playing Bangladesh in final will be tough. But we are not thinking much about our rivals. We have played some dominating cricket and have to come up with another big performance against Bangladesh. They have improved a lot and are a very good team."
Rohit Sharma: Glad that we could put up a performance like that (vs UAE). Wickets here have been challenging
Amjad Javed: We planned to score 120 but couldn't score. We were playing against the favourites in the tournament but we will come back stronger. Hopefully, after this experience, they will go back, play in the domestic tournaments and come back stronger.
.@ImRo45 named Man of the Match for his 39 off 28 balls #IndvUAE #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/kBLRWRBrTP
- BCCI (@BCCI) 3 March 2016
2133 hrs IST: And the match is over! Yuvraj Singh remains unbeaten on 25 and Shikhar Dhawan on 16 to guide India to a comfortable nine-wicket win over hapless UAE. Rohit came in and played a quick cameo of 39 and got his runs with ease. He showed his class even when playing against a paltry score. Yuvraj was promoted at number three and delivered. He came and scored a few lusty blows.
2127 hrs IST: Yuvraj Singh is back to his best and that's a good sign for India ahead of the World Twenty20. India 72/1 in 9 overs.
2119 hrs IST: Yuvraj Singh has been promoted ahead of Virat Kohli at No.3.
2113 hrs IST: WICKET! Rohit Sharma departs after a fiery knock. Qadeer Ahmed bowls a widish delivery, Rohit tries to go over point but slices straight to Mohammad Naveed at third man. India 43/1 in 5.5 overs.
2103 hrs IST: Rohit Sharma is in a hurry to finish the game soon. However, his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan looks in some kind of trouble. India 24/0 in 4 overs.
2049 hrs IST: Before the start of the match both teams observed a two minute silence as tribute to Martin Crowe, who passed away today. (Read full story)
2025 hrs IST: That's the end of the first innings and India have restricted UAE to 81/9 in 20 overs. Shaiman Anwar top scored with 43 off 48 balls. Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up 2/8, while debutant Negi, Bumrah, Pandya, Harbhajan and Yuvraj bagged a wicket apiece.
2022 hrs IST: WICKET! Bhuvneshwar Kumar strikes again and UAE are reduced to 80/8 in the 20th over.
2010 hrs IST: WICKET! Pawan Negi is everywhere today. He picked up wicket in his first over, then took a catch and now he is involved in a run out. Fahad Tariq plays with soft hands towards cover and sets off for a single, his partner at the other end doesn't respond. Tariq is halfway down the pitch and has no chance of getting back. UAE 66/7 in 17 overs.
2004 hrs IST: WICKET! Yuvraj Singh strikes too in his first over. Gets Muhammad Kaleem for two. UAE 62/6 in 15.4 overs.
1955 hrs IST: WICKET! Harbhajan Singh gets the skipper as UAE lose half their side. Amjad Javed chips it straight to Pawan Negi at short mid-wicket. UAE 53/5 in 13.2 overs.
1953 hrs IST! WICKET! Debutant Pawan Negi gets his first international wicket in his first over. Muhammad Usman steps down the track and skies it to Harbhajan Singh at long off for 9. UAE 51/4 in 12.5 overs.
1936 hrs IST: WICKET! Another one bites the dust. Hardik Pandya gets Rohan Mustafa for 11. Pandya bowls a short ball outside off forcing Rohan to go after it. The left-handed batsman hits hard but straight to Virat Kohli at cover. UAE 25/3 in 8.4 overs.
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1927 hrs IST: With a wicket and a couple of maiden overs, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has bowled extremely well so far and looks like he has found his rhythm back.
1915 hrs IST: WICKET! Jasprit Bumrah joins the party as he removes Mohammad Shahzad for nought. Shahzad edges to Suresh Raina at second slip. India are off to a brilliant start. UAE 2/2 in 3.3 overs.
1911 hrs IST: WICKET! Bhuvneshwar Kumar strikes in his second over. Swapnil Patil goes for a flick but gets a leading edge in the process. Bhuvneshwar calls for it and completes the catch. UAE 1/1 in 2.4 overs.
1900 hrs IST: UAE batsmen are out in the middle. Bhuvneshwar Kumar starts with a maiden over.
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1855 hrs IST: Teams pay tribute to legendary Martin Crowe, who died today, at the age of 53. Both team players are wearing black armbands in respect.
Slip catching drills courtesy @ashwinravi99 #AsiaCup #IndvsUAE pic.twitter.com/VYmf4n1J5t
- BCCI (@BCCI) 3 March 2016
1843 hrs IST: TEAMS!
United Arab Emirates: Rohan Mustafa, Muhammad Kaleem, Mohammad Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Muhammad Usman, Amjad Javed(c), Swapnil Patil(w), Mohammad Naveed, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Tariq, Ahmed Raza
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni(w/c), Hardik Pandya, Pawan Negi, Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah
1833 hrs IST: TOSS! UAE have won the toss and they will bat first against India. Ashish Nehra, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja have been rested. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harbhajan Singh and Pawan Negi have been included in India's playing XI.
Just a little pitch inspection by captain @msdhoni before the toss #AsiaCup #IndvsUAE pic.twitter.com/NKYGE6Udn1
- BCCI (@BCCI) 3 March 2016
Big day for @iampawannegi. He is all set to make his T20I debut for India against UAE #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/pzdtNXxb2P
- BCCI (@BCCI) 3 March 2016
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Pawan Negi, India's latest million dollar boy, has been close to an international debut, but only just. On Thursday, he could finally debut in the India vs UAE Asia Cup 2016 T20 match in Mirpur.
Negi is part of India's World T20 and India's best chance to blood him has arrived. With three emphatic wins under their belt, India are on a definite high. A good show by the 23-year-old Delhi left-arm spinner will only add to India's arsenal before Sunday's final against Bangladesh and of course, the World Cup later this month.
Skipper MS Dhoni has made guest appearances in Asia Cup so far, playing nine balls in three games! He could bat inside the top five and spend some quality time in the middle. His glovework has been immaculate so far, showing no signs of any back trouble.
Harbhajan Singh, Parthiv Patel and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be itching for a game. Any international fixture is good practice before a World Cup.
© AP
UAE will play for pride. Their batting has lacked direction and they have not been able to carry the momentum of the qualifiers forward. Yet, for the likes of captain Amjad Javed, Mohammad Usman and left-arm spinner Ahmed Raza, a contest against India is an opportunity of a lifetime. Can they make it count?