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'Ye NZ wale Pakistan se inspired lagte hai' - Fans react as UAE beat New Zealand by 7 wickets in 2nd T20I to level the series

The UAE scripted history with their first-ever win against New Zealand in a gripping encounter at Dubai International Stadium.

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Rohit Kumar
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UAE vs NZ 2023

UAE vs NZ 2023 (Source: Twitter)

The UAE scripted history with their first-ever win against New Zealand in a gripping encounter at Dubai International Stadium. The hosts beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the second T20I at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday. Opting to field after winning the toss, the home side showcased their prowess with the ball and stopped the Kiwi batter for 142/8.

The bowling department, led by left-arm pacer Mohammed Jawadullah, who replaced Junaid Siddique, set the tone by dismissing Tim Seifert. Seifert was the visitor's top scorer in the previous game. After that, another left-arm pacer and 17-year-old Aayan Khan also made their mark. Taking three wickets in his quota of overs, Aayan tightened the grip. He ended with impressive figures of 3โ€“20.

Meanwhile, despite Mark Chapman's resistance with a top score of 63, New Zealand was restricted to 142-8. It was looking easy for the host to chase it down until they started batting. UAE showcased their disciplined bowling performance, with Aayan taking three wickets and Jawadullah clinching two of them.

UAE chased target with fiery batting performance

UAE's chase faced an early setback as Tim Southee started with a wicket-maiden over. He removed Aryansh Sharma, UAE's standout performer from the previous match, with a sensational catch at slip by Jimmy Neesham. However, Muhammed Waseem and Vriitya Aravind orchestrated a resilient recovery, forming a pivotal 40-run partnership for the second wicket. Aravind's exquisite shot that sailed into the stands at a backward square leg epitomised their resolve.

Despite a minor hiccup caused by Kyle Jamieson as he dismissed Aravind, Waseem continued to anchor the innings. Aided by some amazing strokes, he reached his half-century in just 27 balls. He eventually departed after contributing a valuable 55 runs, including four sixes. With their captain absent, UAE's determination remained unwavering. Asif Khan and Basil Hameed assumed the mantle, sealing the victory with a flurry of boundaries.

Here is how fans reacted to UAE's amazing victory:

Cricket News featured Aayan Khan Mark Chapman NZ vs UAE Tim Siefert