Southee five-wicket haul leads New Zealand to win over UAE in 1st T20

Captain Tim Southee’s fifer was key in triggering a UAE collapse, with the host losing its last four wickets for just 10 runs and being bowled out with two balls to spare.

To lead New Zealand to a 19-run victory over the United Arab Emirates in a Twenty20 match on Thursday, captain Tim Southee amassed 5-25.

Aryansh Sharma, the team's opener, was dismissed for a match-high 60 in the 15th over, and the UAE, who had seven players making their T20 debuts, could not recover. They were pursuing a winnable 156.

With two balls left, the UAE was all out after losing its final four wickets for a combined 10 runs.

Opener Tim Seifert led New Zealand’s batting with 55 of their first 60 runs, including three sixes.

When New Zealand was forced to bat first, they were 85-5 but Jimmy Neesham scored 25 off 22 balls, Cole McConchie scored 31 not out off 24, and Rachin Ravindra scored 21 not out off 11. They scored 155-6 in total.

The UAE chase got off to a poor start when Southee ran out skipper Muhammad Waseem to the first ball, leg before on the back leg. Coincidentally, Chad Bowes' behind edge on Junaid Siddique cost New Zealand a wicket when the first ball was bowled.

Sharma struck three consecutive goals against Ben Lister and two more against Kyle Jamieson.

Sharma had the UAE well above the required run rate, but after the 12th over, it started to decline.

Then, at 101-5, Southee came back to remove Basil Hameed, and Neesham caught Sharma after his swipe forced Bowes to make a brilliant catch at short extra cover.

Sharma's 60 off of 43 was the best score by a UAE cricketer playing in his first T20 match.

This weekend is the final two T20 matches.