The T20 World Cup 2026 witnessed high drama as UAE edged out Canada by five wickets in their Group D clash. This hard-fought win catapults UAE to fourth place, intensifying the competition for semifinal spots.
Opting to set a target after the toss, Canada started shakily, losing three quick wickets with just 38 on the board. Enter Harsh Thakor, who forged a vital 58-run alliance with Navneet Dhaliwal in 47 balls for the fourth wicket. Dhaliwal’s 34 came off 28 balls with four fours, but his dismissal opened the door for Thakor and Shreyas Movva to add 33 more, pushing the score to 129.
Movva made 21, while Thakor’s gritty half-century – 50 off 41, with two fours and three sixes – lifted Canada to 150 for 7. Skipper Dilpreet Bajwa added 11, but the rest struggled. UAE spinner Junaid Siddiqui starred with 5 for 35, dismantling the Canadian batting lineup effectively.
UAE’s pursuit began with a stumble, captain Mohammad Waseem out for 4 at 12. Aryansh Sharma and Alishan Sharafu (5) managed 29 for the second wicket. At 66 for 4, Sharma linked with Shoaib Khan for a match-defining 84-run partnership off 42 balls, reaching the target comfortably.
Sharma’s 74 off 53 (6×4, 3×6) was a standout, falling just short of victory. Khan’s blistering 51* off 29 (4×4, 4×6) sealed the deal in 19.4 overs. Saad Bin Zafar’s 3 for 14 gave Canada hope, but UAE’s resilience shone through. This result highlights UAE’s balanced attack and chasing ability in the tournament.