UAE Crash To Lowest-Ever T20I Total Vs India, Beat New Zealand's Unwanted Record By...

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-09-10 17:24:04 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-10 20:11:18

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They were hoping to replicate the unprecedented achievement of fellow Associates Netherlands, who stunned England at Napier last year. But United Arab Emirates (UAE) collapsed to their lowest-ever Total in T20Is, going down for just 57 in the Asia Cup opener against India. This was the Emirates' second lowest score in all internationals, better only than the 46 they mustered against England at the 2011 World Cup.

The gulf in class between the two sides was evident right from the outset at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, August 27, with India needing just eight overs to dismantle the UAE, who had made a decent start after being put in to bat. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who recorded the best T20I figures by an Indian with 6/25 last month, rattled through the UAE lineup with the new ball to finish with figures of 4/19. He had opener Muhammad Usman caught at cover for a golden duck first up and then saw off Alex Danes and Ashfaq Ahmed in his successive overs, all caught in the circle. Chahal finished off the innings in his fourth over, bowling Mohammad Naveed with a deceptive wrong'un that went straight through.

The UAE's total is the joint-lowest in the history of T20I cricket, equaling the score made by Ireland against Scotland at the 2019 World Cup Qualifiers. It is also the lowest total in an Asia Cup tournament, beating the previous low of 62 made by Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in 2016. Ironically, the 57 tally is also the same score New Zealand put on the board in the 2021 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup game against Australia. That too was an unwanted record, as Australia managed to beat it by bowling out India for just 35 the lowest-ever total in Women's Cricket World Cup history. So, while UAE's total is undoubtedly nothing to write home about, it is still a feather in their cap, beating two unwanted records in the process. And with India hitting the elusive target in just 6.4 overs, the UAE will hope to bounce back quickly and put this aberration behind them.

This was the second time India have bowled out their opponents for less than 100 in T20I cricket, the first instance being the 94 all out that England managed in 2016. And the men in blue will be keen to continue this dominant form heading into the Super 4s stage of the Asia Cup.

"I would have happily given away the four wickets for the team to win the game," man-of-the-match Chahal said after the match. "When I went out to bat, I was telling myself, 'just believe, whatever has to happen will happen'. We have a strong team, and we will give our best at every stage."

Go!