New Delhi, Feb 13 (NationPress) Aryansh Sharma delivered a remarkable performance with an unbeaten 74 runs off 53 balls, while Sohaib Khan contributed a quick-fire 51 off 29 as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) successfully chased down 151 runs to secure a thrilling five-wicket victory against Canada in their Group D match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday.

The UAE faced a tough challenge, finding themselves at 66/4 while pursuing 151, but Sharma remained steadfast at one end, even as Canada's spinners applied pressure during the middle overs. The turning point came with Sohaib’s explosive entry, as he hit four sixes and four boundaries in a fierce counterattack, partnering with Aryansh to add 84 runs off merely 42 balls.

Sharma’s composed batting was pivotal, as he finished not out from 53 deliveries, striking six fours and three sixes. Meanwhile, Sohaib's aggressive batting rattled Canada’s bowlers in the dying overs, turning the match in UAE's favor.

For Canada, veteran all-rounder Saad Bin Zafar shone with figures of 3-14, but his efforts were insufficient to stem the UAE’s late onslaught. This win highlighted the UAE's batting prowess beyond their experienced players, as Aryansh and Sohaib rose to the occasion, clinching victory with two balls to spare.

The UAE’s chase began poorly when captain Waseem fell to a top-edge off Kaleem Sana. However, Sharma looked in good touch, showcasing his skills with a back-foot punch through covers against Dilon Heyliger and clearing the fence off Jaskaran Singh for a six.

While Alishan Sharafu struggled to find his rhythm, Sharma found support from Mayank Kumar, until Zafar struck again, dismissing Mayank. Harshit Kaushik briefly lifted spirits with an edged four, but he too fell prey to Zafar.

At 66/4 in 12.3 overs, Canada appeared to be in control. However, everything changed with Sohaib's entrance. He made his mark with a six off Ansh Patel and teamed up with Sharma for an impressive counter-attack.

Aryansh reached his fifty with a massive hit off Patel, while Sohaib cleared the ropes twice in Heyliger’s 16th over, including a straight hit that soared into the sight screen. Suddenly, the required run rate was back in the UAE's favor.

In the 18th over, Sohaib hammered Jaskaran for a four and a six, leaving Canada flustered as their bowlers missed their line. When Sana returned, the UAE needed 26 runs off 12 balls. Sharma pulled off three fours while Sohaib capitalized on a free hit to secure his fifty.

The duo's audacious display brought UAE closer to victory, igniting the crowd's excitement over an improbable finish just a few overs earlier. Although Sohaib was dismissed trying to loft a shot, Aryansh hit a six off Jaskaran and signaled their approach to the finish line, with Muhammad Arfan securing the winning run for a memorable UAE triumph over Canada.

Brief scores:

Canada 150/7 in 20 overs (Harsh Thaker 50, Navneet Dhaliwal 34; Junaid Siddique 5-35, Muhammad Jawadullah 1-16) lost to UAE 151/5 in 19.4 overs (Aryansh Sharma 74 not out, Sohaib Khan 51; Saad Bin Zafar 3-14, Kaleem Sana 1-29) by five wickets.