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UAE notched up a dramatic five-wicket win over Canada in a thrilling Group D encounter at the T20 World Cup 2026, fueled by resilient half-centuries from opener Aryansh Sharma and lower-order specialist Sohaib Khan. The run chase went down to the wire, with the UAE successfully overhauling the 151-run target with just two balls to spare.
UAE have the last laugh against Canada
Aryansh Sharma anchored the pursuit with a commanding, unbeaten 74 off 53 deliveries, a knock punctuated by six boundaries and three maximums. He found a vital partner in Sohaib Khan, who came in at number six and turned the tide with a high-stakes, 29-ball 51. Khan’s aggressive innings, featuring four boundaries and four sixes, provided the necessary momentum to overcome a disciplined Canadian bowling attack.
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Earlier in the day, Canada opted to bat first and managed to post a total of 150/7. The innings was bolstered by a 58-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Harsh Thaker, who scored a steady 50, and Navneet Dhaliwal, who contributed 34. However, their progress was significantly hampered by UAE pacer Junaid Siddique, who delivered a standout performance by claiming his maiden five-wicket haul (5/35), effectively stalling Canada's momentum in the final overs.
The UAE’s chase of 151 got off to a disastrous start as captain Muhammad Waseem struggled for timing before holing out to mid-on for just 4 runs in the third over. The scoring remained sluggish initially, with the team limping to 22 runs after five overs. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the final over of the powerplay when Aryansh Sharma targeted Jaskaran Singh, plundering 17 runs to breathe life into the innings.
Despite Sharma's aggression, the middle order crumbled against the clinical bowling of Saad Bin Zafar. Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Kumar, and Harshit Kaushik were all dismissed cheaply, leaving the UAE in a precarious position at 66/4 after 12.3 overs. The match seemed to be slipping away until Sohaib Khan joined Sharma in the middle to stage a remarkable recovery.
The duo turned the game on its head with an explosive 84-run partnership that came off only 42 deliveries. This game-changing stand took the UAE to the brink of a historic result. Although Khan was dismissed with the finish line in sight, Jaskaran Singh struck the winning runs to secure the victory with three balls to spare. This triumph marks a significant milestone for the nation, representing only their second-ever win in T20 World Cup history since their 2022 defeat of Namibia.
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