India A have qualified for the semi-finals of the ACC T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup with their second win of the tournament.
Tilak Varma’s team had beaten Pakistan A in the first game and defeated the UAE on Monday (October 22) by seven wickets at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground to go on top of the table with four points.
UAE decided to bat first after winning the toss but the decision did not work out as they lost both their openers - Aryansh Sharma (1) and Mayank Kumar (10) within the first 10 deliveries. They were soon reduced to 39-5 in the first six overs, with Rasikh Salam picking up three wickets in his opening over, dismissing Nilansh Keswani (5), Vishnu Sukumaran (0) and Syed Haider Shah (4) in the space of five balls.
The UAE put on a fightback, with Rahul Chopra (50) and skipper Basil Hameed (22), making 41 runs for the sixth wickets. However, Abhishek Sharma struck and removed the latter in the 11th over. It was downhill for the UAE thereafter, and they were eventually dismissed for 107, with 3.1 overs remaining.
In reply, India lost Prabhsimran Singh for eight, but Sharma and Varma ensured there were no hiccups, taking the score to 81 before the latter was dismissed. Sharma was at his attacking best, making 58 in just 24 balls with five fours and four sixes.
He was dismissed with just 13 left to win, which was gunned down successfully by Nehal Wadhera and Ayush Badoni.
India’s next game is against Oman on October 23, with the semi-finals two days later.
Watch the highlights of IND A vs UAE here:
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