UAE VS NZ - 2nd T20I, New Zealand tour of United Arab Emirates, 2023

Histories don't make men. Men make history! And today a bunch of men from the UAE have made history. Today's date will remain in the hearts of Cricket fans. T20 cricket has bridged the gap between top nations and the fringe ones and today was one such example when a top team has tripped down. Little mistakes from the visitors and it has costed them dearly. We are into the decider. This is going to be fun. We will be back soon with more cricketing action. This is our team of MS, KAD and Praveen wishing you good night...

Aayan Khan, Player of the Match: I was sleeping today and didn't have breakfast. The first wicket I loved. I am doing well but want to continue. I have got the coach's backing. We can beat more teams in times to come. We have big players like Waseem and knew we would be able to chase this down.

Muhammad Waseem: We always look to win. I always look to contribute. Asif is a quality player. He has debuted late but he has experience. He told me he will finish the game. Aayan Khan can be a future star. He never takes pressure.

Tim Southee: Lot of credit to the UAE team. Anything can happen on a given day in T20 cricket. We didn't learn from the first game. Dropped catches are a part of the game. Waseem has shown for years he is a quality player. We just need to be better in all three areas. UAE were better in all aspects today.

21:22 Local Time, 17:22 GMT, 22:52 IST: UAE's biggest night indeed in white ball cricket. Their first win against NZ. Their first win in Dubai. We have witnessed history. UAE players have done the unthinkable. Asif Khan batted briiliantly but the seeds were sown by the bowlers first and then Waseem scored a fine fifty. NZ once again huffed and puffed a lot while batting first. They managed only 142. It looked par at the half-way mark. But the UAE batters came out with intent. They put the bowlers under pressure and reaped the rewards. The catching from the visitors was poor as well. That aided the chase. This game is a major shot in the arm for UAE cricket.

Southee to Asif Khan, FOUR, short ball, Asif Khan gets hold of the ball and slaps it past deep mid for a four. That was struck hard and into the gap. UAE have scripted history. They have hammered NZ! They came close in the last game and have manged to win the game tonight

Southee to Asif Khan, FOUR, short ball, angled in. Asif Khan gets hold of the short ball and crunches it past deep square for a four. The rampage continues

Southee to Asif Khan, 2 runs, short ball, angled in, pulled down to deep mid for a couple of runs

Southee to Asif Khan, SIX, hammered! Over wide long-on for a sixer. Short ball, Asif Khan flat-bats it over the fence. Huge hit indeed. Runs needed in single digits

Tim Southee [3.0-1-16-1] is back into the attack

Neesham to Asif Khan, 1 run, short ball, angles in. Was pulled down to deep mid for a single. 15 needed off 30 balls. UAE are so to scripting history

Neesham to Asif Khan, FOUR, edged and four! Was a back of a length delivery, angled away, Asif Khan looks to loft it and edges it past the keeper for a four

Neesham to Basil Hameed, 1 run, short ball, outside off, Basil Hameed steers the ball down to third man for a single

Neesham to Asif Khan, 1 run, short ball, Asif Khan mistimes the pull down to deep mid for a single

Neesham to Asif Khan, FOUR, fuller length delivery, outside off, Asif Khan backs away and slaps it past mid-off for a four. That was hit hard and into the gap

Neesham to Basil Hameed, 1 run, length delivery, slapped on the up to find the man at deep cover for a single

Neesham to Basil Hameed, wide, short ball, banged in short, Basil Hameed looks to pull and misses

James Neesham [2.0-0-11-0] is back into the attack

Jamieson to Asif Khan, 2 runs, angles that on to the pads, Asif Khan nudges the ball fine and the man at fine leg dives to his right to stop it. 28 needed off 36 balls

Jamieson to Basil Hameed, 1 run, short ball, dabbed down to deep point for a single