The UAE bowlers came to the fore as the home team stunned Afghanistan to level the three-match T20I series with an 11-run win at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Captain Muhammad Waseem and Aryan Lakra smashed half-centuries to help the UAE post a competitive total of 166-7 before Ali Naseer and Muhammad Jawadullah grabbed four wickets each to dismiss their opponents for 155.
Naseer grabbed the first three wickets in three overs and bagged his fourth from his second spell to take the player of the match award for an excellent spell of 4-1-24-4.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (21), the centurion in the first game, was Naseer's first victim when he skied one for Waseem to hold on at mid-off.
Afghan captain Ibrahim Zadran (4) was caught at third man by Jawadullah while Hazratullah Zazai (36) fell to a catch behind by Tanish Suri to leave the visitors at 72-3 in 9.4 overs.
Jawadullah (4-26) grabbed four in his second spell to turn the game around.
The left-arm seamer castled Najibullah Zadran (12) and Darwish Rasooli played on his next delivery to leave the Afghans struggling at 95-5 in 13.5.
He struck twice in two deliveries in the next and Junaid Siddique took one in-between to leave Afghanistan tottering at 128-9 in 17.5 overs.
However, Afghanistan weren’t going down without a fight. Mohammad Nabi smashed 19 off Siddique’s penultimate over that left them needing 20 to win off Akif Raja’s final over.
Nabi (47 off 27) hit the second ball for a maximum and needed a couple of sixes from the last two deliveries but top edged a catch to Lakra at deep backward point as the home celebrated a famous win.
Earlier, Waseem and Lakra both struck fifties to help post a decent score.
Waseem, dropped at 10, led the charge with a 32-ball 53 and Lakra played the anchor role to remain 63 not out off 47 after the host team elected to bat first.
Waseem hammered Noor Ahmad for two sixes and two fours when the left-arm spinner came in the last powerplay over. The UAE were up and running at 55 for no loss in six overs.
The UAE captain reached his half-century in 29 balls before falling to a catch to Mohammad Nabi at long-off in Qais Ahmad’s first over.
After a cautious start, Lakra changed gears. He lofted Noor over the long-on fence for six and also smacked Qais over the mid-wicket boundary for his second maximum.
Joined by Raja (13 not out off 11), the pair added a useful 39 for the eighth wicket to help the UAE finish strongly.
Lakra moved to 49 with a six that sailed over the stadium roof and followed up with a single to cover to reach his half century off 42 balls. His 47-ball knock contained fours sixes and three fours.
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How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Kane (50')
Newcastle United 0
The Specs
Engine 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp (542bhp in GTS model)
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000 (Dh549,000 for GTS)
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Places to go for free coffee
- Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day.
- La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
- Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
- Orange Wheels welcome parents are to sit, relax and enjoy goodies at ‘Café O’ along with a free coffee
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 1 (Martinez 18' pen)
Juventus 2 (Dybala 4', Higuain 80')
