Fifties from Aryansh and Sohaib fashion UAE win over Canada

United Arab Emirates registered their first win of the Twenty20 World Cup ‌after half-centuries by Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan ​secured a ⁠five-wicket victory over Canada in ‌a Group D ‌match at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Friday.

Chasing 151 for victory, UAE slumped to 66-4 in the ‌13th over before a rapid 84-run stand between ⁠Aryansh and Sohaib set up their win with two balls to spare.

Aryansh made 74 not out, while Sohaib produced a 29-ball blitz of 51.

Sharma played the anchor while Sohaib took on the opposition attack with four fours and four sixes to deny Canada and hand UAE their first win in two matches in Group D.

Sohaib Khan plays a shot during the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup group stage match. AFP

Sohaib raised his fifty off 28 balls but fell in the last over to leave Muhammad Arfan to hit the winning run to trigger joyous celebrations.

After electing to bat, Canada posted a ​competitive 150-7 with Harsh Thaker (50) and Navneet ‌Dhaliwal (34) contributing useful runs.

UAE seamer Junaid Siddique claimed five of Canada's seven wickets, conceding 35 runs ⁠in his four overs.

Junaid Siddique, on ground, celebrates the wicket of Canada's Saad Bin Zafar during the T20 World Cup match. AP

 "In the first innings, we thought they might be going for 160 or 170," said Siddique. "We bowled very well in the last few overs and knew that 150 was a chaseable total."

Left-arm spinner Saad Bin Zafar wrecked UAE's top order, claiming the wickets of Alishan ​Sharafu, ‌Mayank Kumar and Harshit Kaushik to put ‌Canada on top but Aryansh proved immovable and brought up his fifty off 41 balls.

Sohaib, who hit ‌four sixes, ‌put UAE's chase back ⁠on track with a 28-ball fifty ‌before falling in the final over.

UAE leapfrogged Afghanistan into third place in the ⁠group - behind New Zealand and South ​Africa, who are level on four points from two matches.

Agencies