In a Group D clash under overcast conditions in New Delhi where we had early morning rain, South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bowl first making some wholesale changes to give others a chance. UAE started well in the initial overs through Muhammad Waseem in particular as the captain got a start but both openers were dismissed inside the powerplay as South Africa took control of proceedings.
South Africa removes both openers to gain control inside the powerplay.Â
Put into bat first, Aryansh Sharma and Muhammad Waseem the captain came out to bat for UAE while Kagiso Rabada had ball in hand for South Africa. Aryansh made his intentions clear as he swivelled and went for the pull shot and got a top edge that flew overs the slips and went all the way for the maximum using the pace of the bowler. Kawena Maphaka had ball in hand from the other end. He started with wides.
Then Waseem planted his front leg and drove it back past the bowler for a boundary to get himself going. South Africa appealed for LBW against Sharma but the ball had pitched outside the leg stump and the review was lost by the Proteas. Rabada continued as Waseem took the attack to Rabada by first blasting the ball down the ground over mid-off for a boundary. Waseem then stood tall and hammered it down the ground for a boundary. Then a ball was on the pads down the leg side as Waseem tickled it away to the fine leg fence.
Aryansh got a reprieve when he was dropped by de Kock as Rabada could have another. Anrich Nortje came into the attack next. Sharma drove and got it off the outer half of the bat and it went uppishly past the diving cover point fence for a boundary. George Linde came out to bat next. He got the breakthrough by removing Waseem for 22 off 12 balls with 3 fours to his name.
Linde bowled it quicker and fuller on the leg stump, Waseem shuffled across the stumps and got low to sweep it but was too fall to play the stroke. He was in a tangle and ended up missing it on the leg stump. The umpire gave it OUT. Waseem reviewed and replays confirmed 2 reds and a loss of review as well. Alishan Sharafu came out to bat next and he got off the mark with a boundary by going inside out over covers.
Corbin Bosch came to bowl the last over of powerplay. He removed Sharma for 13 off 17 balls with one four and one six to his name. Bosch bowled a short of a length delivery on the off-stump. Sharma sat deep on the crease and went for the pull over midwicket but mistimed it completely and mistimed it after he got it off the upper half of the bat as Mapahaka back peddalled and took the catch. Drinks was taken at this stage.
Sohaib Khan came out to bat next. He got off the mark as well. At the end of the powerplay, UAE were 44/2 in 6 overs with Khan unbeaten on 1 off 1 ball alongside Sharafu unbeaten on 5 off 6 balls.
Alishan Sharafu keeps the fight going for UAE even as Sohaib fell in the 10th over.Â
George Linde continued after the break and bowled a quiet over. Anrich Nortje came back into the attack next. Sharafu pushed away from the body and got an outside edge that flew through the slips and away for a boundary. Sharafu then slashed the ball away over wide third man for the maximum. Linde continued and bowled a good over.
Corbin Bosch came back into the attack to bowl the 10th over. He removed Khan for 6 off 11 balls. Bosch bowled a back of a length delivery in the channel outside off-stump with extra bounce on this pitch. Sohaib hung back and looked to guide it down to third man with an open bat face but got an outside edge and de Kock behind the stumps to complete a regulation catch.
Syed Haider Shah came out to bat next and got off the mark with a brace. At the end of 10 overs at the halfway stage of the innings, UAE were 66/3 with Sharafu unbeaten on 20 off 16 balls and Haider Shah unbeaten on 2 off 4 balls.
What Lies Ahead.Â
South Africa have done well to chip away at the wickets and kept the UAE rate under check to keep them at 66/3 at the halfway stage of the game. UAE needs a partnership and then accelerate later on to post a challenging total. South Africa will be the happier side at this stage of the game. UAE needs to finish well and post over 160 from here. Let’s see how the rest of the innings pans out from this position.
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