Anwar 117* secures series win for UAE
Shaiman Anwar became the first United Arab Emirates batsman to hit a Twenty20 International century, as the home team beat Papua New Guinea by 30 runs in the second T20I to take a winning 2-0 lead in the series at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday (April 14).
Anwar made 117 not out off 68 balls as UAE piled up 180 for 3, and though PNG began well, it was bowled out for 150 in 20 overs with Mohammad Naveed’s 3 for 18 doing most of the damage.
The third and final match of the series will take place on the same day, some two hours after the conclusion of this match. It will, however, be of academic interest only with UAE already having sealed the series.
PNG won the toss and chose to bowl first in the second T20I, and Norman Vanua struck twice in the first over, getting rid of both openers, with Rohan Mustafa, the captain, and Naveed making 4 each. From 9 for 2 however, UAE took control with Anwar leading the charge. He put on 62 in 8.3 overs with Mohammed Qasim, with the latter’s contribution being a mere 13 off 20. Qasim fell to John Reva in the tenth over, the platform had been set.
Anwar then associated with Rameez Shahzad, who stayed unbeaten on 29 off 30, even while the duo put on 109 runs in just 10.3 overs, with Anwar stepping on the accelerator in style.
In the end he had 10 fours and six sixes in his innings, easily going past his previous T20I best of 60 made against Afghanistan in December 2016. The previous highest for UAE in the game’s shortest format was Mustafa’s 77, made two months ago in February against Afghanistan in Fatullah.
PNG’s reply got off to a frenetic start, with Tony Ura and Lega Siaka putting on 42 in just 3.3 overs, but once Amjad Javed removed both – with Assad Vala falling in between – PNG had lost three wickets in as many overs to be 53 for 3 in the sixth over.
PNG couldn’t string together a substantial partnership after that, and only Sese Bau’s 22-ball 30 and Jack Vare’s 36-ball 38 were double-figure scores.
Javed, who had come in for early punishment from the openers, pulled things back well to end with 3 for 38.