UAE vs Ireland, 2nd T20I: Meiyappan, Suri propel hosts to 54-run victory

Karthik Meiyappan and Akif Raza shared seven wickets to drive the United Arab Emirates to a comfortable 54-run victory over Ireland. The tourists were skittled out for 109 in the pursuit of 164.

Andy Balbirnie won the toss and asked UAE to bat. Josh Little had Waseem Muhammad caught by Mark Adair in his first over. Chirag Suri (51 in 44 balls) then added 47 with Vritya Anand (23 in 15) and 61 with Muhammad Usman. Suri was eventually trapped leg-before by Craig Young. Basil Hameed struck three sixes en route 20-ball 39 to take UAE to 163/4 in 20 overs. Little, Young and Adair picked a wicket apiece.

In response, Ireland kept losing wickets regularly, three of them inside the Powerplay. The opening duo of Paul Stirling and Kevin O'Brien got separated in the second over when the former fell to Akif Raza. Raza struck again in the next over by getting Balbirnie caught by Waseem Muhammad.

Barring Curtis Campher, who scored 22 in 16 balls, none of the Irish batters could score more than 20. The last five batters ot 21 between them as they were skittled out for 109. Meiyappan took four wickets, while Raza claimed three.

Brief Scores: United Arab Emirates 163/4 in 20 overs (Chirag Suri 51; Joshua Little 1-24) beat Ireland 109 in 18.4 overs (Curtis Campher 22; Karthik Meiyappan 4-25) by 54 runs.