New Zealand were given a real scare in the series opener before the UAE faltered at the finish. The hosts will take plenty from the opening encounter though and could be a dangerous prospect.
UAE vs New Zealand | Second T20I | Saturday 19 August 2023 | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai | 16:00
Odds TBA*
In an experienced UAE side it was young Aryansh Sharma who was the standout first time around.
The 18-year-old batter struck a half century of surprising maturity and nearly powered a memorable triumph.
The bowling of Junaid Siddique was also a huge boost to the hosts and they will want so much more from him and the unit as a whole.
UAE need to build more partnerships if they are to compete against top teams like New Zealand.
New Zealand might feel they left themselves exposed to a possible defeat before Tim Southee pulled off the rescue act.
In one of the great examples of bowling leadership in a T20, Southee first took out the top order then returned later to finish the job.
The depth of New Zealand’s batting also pulled them out of a hole with Jimmy Neesham, Cole McConchie and Rachin Ravindra doing key work to get the Black Caps to a defendable score.
Tim Seifert was the top order standout and is a good pick to end the series as the leading runscorer.
Verdict: New Zealand
The first match should serve as a wake up call for New Zealand.
