NZ VS UAE T20I

Tim Southee collects the trophy and walks over to his team to pose for the photographs! We have witnessed a tightly-fought series and not many would have predicted that to happen. Most would have expected New Zealand to steamroll over their less-fancied opponents but United Arab Emirates have definitely impressed in this series. The Kiwis will now travel to the United Kingdom to face England in a four-match T20I series. The first T20I will be played on Wednesday 30th August and the first ball will be bowled at 10.30 pm IST (5 pm GMT) but do join us for the build-up well in advance. United Arab Emirates do not have an international fixture scheduled but after this performance, there will be a few teams lining up to play this upcoming side. From here, goodbye and cheers!

Tim Southee, the skipper of New Zealand says that he is really proud of his side for winning the series. He adds that he is very confident in the youngsters of the team and that they will take the national team ahead. After being asked about the conditions, he says that the humidity is the most challenging factor in the UAE but claims that the lads adjusted really well to the conditions and the results were in their favour.

Mark Chapman is the Player of the Series for scoring two half-centuries in consecutive games. He says that he is very happy that they won the series. He adds that in this game, the wicket played very well so he was looking to be positive and play his shots to get his team to a good score. When asked about how challenging it is for an associate side to play against a team like New Zealand, he says that it is always tough as they do not play them often but United Arab Emirates are growing from strength to strength so it is good for them.

Will Young is the Player of the Match for scoring 51 runs in 32 deliveries and providing his side with a much-needed impetus. He says it was good to sit on the sidelines for two games as it gave him an opportunity to have a look at the opposition. He adds that United Arab Emirates is a good side and they played well in the first two matches. Mentions that there was grass on the surface and it was a bit two-paced early on in the innings.

Muhammad Waseem, the skipper of United Arab Emirates says that for a chase of over 160 runs, they needed a good start and that did not happen. He adds that the wicket was really good and they had it in them to chase down the target. He claims that he was looking to attack from the word go as he wanted to give his team a good start. He mentions that he is very thankful to the supporters as well as the support staff. Ends by saying that he is happy with the way his team has played against New Zealand.

Time for the presentations...

New Zealand lost two wickets in the Powerplay after being asked to bat first as both their openers were dismissed cheaply. Will Young and Mark Chapman strung together an 84-run partnership to rebuild the innings with both batters eventually reaching their half-centuries. Mitchell Santner had a lucky break and provided the finishing touches to help his side cross the 165-run mark. Junaid Siddique was impressive with the ball once again claiming three wickets and should have had a fourth. Muhammad Jawadullah and Zahoor Khan picked up a wicket each while the spinners went wicketless in this encounter. In the end, they conceded far too many runs and never looked comfortable in the run chase.

United Arab Emirates got off to a slow start as Aryansh Sharma played out a maiden over first up. Muhammad Waseem got off to a quick start hitting two consecutive boundaries but played one shot too many as he nicked one to the keeper. Vriitya Aravind looked good in his short stay at the wicket but Aryansh Sharma looked to be struggling at the other end. Four quick wickets found them struggling at 53 with half their side back in the shed. Aayan Khan and Basil Hameed stitched together a 68-run partnership to take the game deep but they were well behind the game right through the run chase. Aayan Khan was dismissed on 42 and the run chase fizzled out as they lost by a massive margin to surrender the series.

New Zealand have registered a comprehensive win to clinch the series 2-1! United Arab Emirates fought hard through this series but have not been able to create history by winning a series against a Test-playing nation. The Kiwis have registered a 32-run win in the final encounter to get over the disappointment of losing the last game. Tim Southee started with a maiden but went wicketless while Benjamin Lister ended with three wickets under his belt and Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner, and Adithya Ashok all chipped in with one wicket each. The debutant, Ashok claimed his maiden international wicket and all the bowlers were disciplined as they defended the target with ease.

Delivers this on a good length and outside the off stump. Junaid Siddique steps across towards the line of the ball and looks to work this leg side but gets beaten all ends up.

Pulls his length back a fraction and going down leg. Basil Hameed pulls this towards deep backward square leg for a run.

On a good length and just outside the off pole. Basil Hameed looks to swing hard at the ball but does not connect and the cherry skims past the stumps.

Bowls this full and outside off. Basil Hameed looks to heave this into the leg side but gets an inside edge towards square leg.

A lower ball bowled on a good length and outside off. Basil Hameed dabs this watchfully into the off side.

Yorker at the stumps this time. Junaid Siddique looks to make room and play in on the off side but misses on the timing and gets an inside edge towards the leg side. The batters run a single.

FIVE WIDES! Following the batter moving away, Kyle Jamieson bowls this one way outside the leg stump for Tim Seifert to collect it behind the stumps. United Arab Emirates get 5 extra runs.

FOUR! Short and at the body again and Basil Hameed was waiting for this one and plays a handsome pull infront of mid wicket for a boundary.