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Pakistan survive Amjad scare

Face Bangladesh on Wednesday

Sports Reporter
What was expected to be an easy win for Pakistan turned out to be the
most closely fought contest of the Asia Cup T20 so far. A three-wicket early burst from UAE skipper Amjad Javed threatened an upset, but a 46-ball 50 from Umar Akmal and a 49-ball 63 from Shoaib Malik gave Pakistan a seven-wicket win at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Pakistan will face hosts Bangladesh tomorrow in a must-win encounter for both the sides.
Despite Pakistan's relatively poor performance yesterday, coach Waqar Younis reckons that they will be the favourites heading into that game.
"I think so, I don’t know if
many people think the same but I feel that we are a force to reckon with in this tournament. InT20 there are times you are going to get into jail and then get out. What really matters is that we have finally opened our account,” said Waqar after the match.
When asked if the absence of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who has been ruled out of the tourna-
ment due to an injury, would be an advantage for Pakistan, Waqar replied: "One can't really be worried about one individual. We have to think about our strengths. We are ready for the challenge."
Back to yesterday's match, after UAE scored 129 for six and pegged Pakistan back, the early focus of Malik and Akmal's 114-run fourth-wicket stand was on picking singles as the UAE bowlers maintained their discipline on a challenging, green-tinged wicket.
At the end of the 13 th over Pakistan
16th over was taken at midwicket by Usman Mushtaq. That sapped UAE's spirits and a flurry of boundaries -including three sixes and a four by Akmal in a 23-run 18th over bowled by skipper Amjad - took Pakistan home with eight balls to spare.
Javed had a happier beginning however, rocking Pakistan's chase with a trio of wickets that cut them down to 17 for three by the fourth over. It all started in the second over when he was fortunate to see the umpire's finger go up after trapping Sharjeel Khan in the crease with a ball that replays suggested would have gone over the stumps. A ball later he dispatched Khurram Manzoor with one that seamed away and took the edge. An upset was on the cards when in his next over Amjad had experienced opener Mohammad Hafeez driving uppishly to cover. That however brought together Akmal and Malik, who had the
still required 66 runs and the match was in the balance. It was then that the tide turned in Pakistan's favour. Malik hit Mohammad Naveed for a four and a six in the 14th over which yielded 11 runs and a six in the following over brought the equation down to an achievable 46 runs from five overs. The match could still have been UAE's if the top-edged pull from Malik in the
experience and quality to quell the UAE uprising.
Earlier, UAE decided to bat first on a green pitch and despite losing early wickets managed their highest score of the tournament, courtesy of Shaiman Anwar's 42- ball 46 and Amjad's 18-ball 27. Mohammad Amir was once again phenomenal and finished with figures of 2 for 6 in four overs.