Malik Akmal inspire Pakistan to win after early

DHAKA: Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal guided Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory after an early collapse against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the sixth Twenty20 International of the Asia Cup here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Monday night.Chasing 130, Pakistan made a disastrous start as UAE captain and medium-pacer Amjad Javed sent three top-order batsmen ‘ Sharjeel Khan (4), Khurram Manzoor (naught) and Mohammad Hafeez (11) – back to the pavilion for only 17 runs on the board.Then Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal came to rescue through steady batting and gradually took the charge.Both completed fifties and steered Pakistan to win with eight balls to spare after a 114-run unbeaten fourth wicket partnership.Malik scored 63 off 49 balls with three sixes and seven fours while Akmal made exact fifty off 46 balls with three sixes and two boundaries.Javed was the only wicket-taker for the UAE with three for 36.Earlier, UAE batted first after winning the toss but lost three wickets for only 12 runs in four overs.However, it was Shaiman Anwar, who repaired the damage with his courageous batting against the pace trio of Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Sami. batted first but made a disastrous start losing three wickets to Pakistan pacers for only 12 runs in four overs.However, it was Shaiman Anwar, the most in-form batsman of the UAE, who repaired the damage with his courageous batting against the pace trio of Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Sami. He made 46 off 42 balls with two sixes and five fours.Later, Muhammad Usman and captain Amjad Javed added 46 runs from 32 balls before Usman was bowled by Amir for 21off 17 balls with two fours and a six.The UAE, however, reached 129 for six by the end of the 20th over with Javed remained not out on 27, hitting two sixes and three fours in 18 balls. ”Amir bowled remarkably well to finish with two for six in four overs while Irfan also grabbed two wickets but conceded 30 runs in four overs. Sami and Afridi got one wicket each.Both teams made one change each as Pakistan rested fast bowler Wahab Riaz for left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, who his international debut. Usman Mushtaq replaced Saqlain Haider for the UAE.Pakistan became the first country to play 100 T20 Internationals. They have won 58 matches. ‘