New Delhi, Feb 13 (NationPress) Veteran fast bowler Junaid Siddique from the UAE revealed that his approach of bowling at hard lengths while incorporating numerous slower deliveries proved effective, resulting in his first five-wicket haul. This performance was pivotal in leading the UAE to a five-wicket victory over Canada in the Men's T20 World Cup on Friday.

Siddique's impressive figures of 5-35 now stand as the best by any player from an associate nation in this tournament, as the UAE successfully limited Canada to 150/7 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium before achieving the target with just two balls to spare.

"My strategy was to focus on bowling at hard lengths and maximize my slower balls consecutively. Initially, I was hesitant to bowl slow. However, upon bowling into the wicket, I discovered that my slower ball was working effectively. Hence, I honed in on that tactic," Siddique mentioned in response to a query from IANS during the mixed zone post-match.

At the age of 33, Siddique made an early impact by dismissing Dilpreet Bajwa in the second over and followed it up by removing Yuvraj Samra shortly thereafter. He returned later to claim three additional wickets, including half-centurion Harsh Thaker, wicketkeeper Shreyas Movva, and senior all-rounder Saad Bin Zafar.

After taking his fifth wicket on the second-to-last ball of the innings, Siddique knelt in a sajda at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, marking a significant moment of personal redemption. He gained recognition during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia for hitting the tournament's longest six.

This performance was essential for the UAE, especially following their ten-wicket defeat against New Zealand in their tournament opener, where Siddique had conceded 47 runs. Despite his outstanding performance, the victory was not guaranteed as the UAE found themselves at 68-4 in the 13th over. However, Aryansh Sharma’s unbeaten 74 and Sohaib Khan’s 51 helped steer the team to victory.

"When we were set a target of 150, it appeared manageable. Yet, we encountered some difficulties midway. Fortunately, Shoaib and Aryansh executed the chase excellently," he said.

Siddique's path to international cricket reflects the unique journeys many associate players undertake. He was selected for Pakistan's Under-19 squad against South Africa in 2010 but did not make the final cut for the main team. After facing challenges in domestic cricket, he relocated to the UAE.

"In 2010, I was picked for the Pakistan U-19 team but didn't make the final 15 for the World Cup. Following that, I pursued first-class cricket but couldn't find opportunities," he explained.

"I moved to the UAE in 2014 for job prospects to support my family. Upon arrival, I discovered a vibrant cricket culture, which led me to engage in the sport while seeking employment," he added.

The highlight of his five-wicket haul was the dismissal of Thaker, who was caught off guard by Siddique’s slower ball after looking poised to guide Canada to a competitive score. "When I grip the ball, my sole focus is on taking wickets, and I relish bowling. Enjoying my bowling fuels my motivation to perform at my best for the team—that’s what drives me," he concluded.