India lost their second consecutive game in the Hong Kong Super Sixes to get eliminated from the title race.
Having lost their first match against Pakistan comprehensively, India came into the must-win clash against the UAE and chose to field first after winning the toss. They got a wicket first-ball, as Bharat Chipli knocked over the UAE captain Asif Khan's stumps. It went downhill from there, however, for India.
Khalid Shah (42 off 10) and Muhammad Zuhaib (17 off 5) added 58 in two overs for the second wicket. The rest of the middle order chipped in with cameos, before Zahoor Khan (37 off 11) provided the finishing touches to take UAE to 130 from their six overs. Stuart Binny took three wickets for India from his two overs, conceding 31, and was by far the pick of the bowlers.
In response, India promoted Manoj Tiwary to open alongside Chipli, who had scored an unbeaten fifty in the last game. Chipli was out on the last ball of the first over for 20, while Tiwary only managed 10 off three balls. Captain Robin Uthappa then took charge through the middle, smashing 43 off 10 balls, including three fours and five sixes.
His partner Kedar Jadhav (9 off 6), however, couldn't get himself going. Binny (44 off 11) took over from Uthappa once he was dismissed. At the end of five overs, India were 99-3, needing another 32 runs from six balls. After a four and a wide off the first two balls, the equation came down to 27 off five. Binny then hit four back-to-back sixes off Asif Khan to bring it down to a very gettable three off the last ball.
Also read: Hong Kong Sixes, day 1 round-up: England lose to Nepal, India face must-win clash
Unfortuantely for India, he couldn't get them over the line as the batters completed a run and Binny was run out in a desperate attempt for the second to tie the scores, leaving India one short of UAE's 130.
With the loss, India have crashed out of the title race, but will stay play at least two more matches, in the 'Bowl' competition of the tournament, which will feature the four third-placed teams from each group.
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