Australia batsman D’Arcy Short said victory over the UAE has given them confidence going into their T20 International series against Pakistan.
Short registered his fourth T20I fifty when he smashed 68 off 53 balls including eight boundaries as the tourists reach their 118-run target in 16.1 overs on Monday in Abu Dhabi.
The Aussies will now turn their focus to the three-match series against the top-ranked nation beginning on Wednesday in the UAE capital. And after the seven-wicket victory over the UAE, Short said: “Definitely, it gave them an opportunity to see where their game is at and also helped us. The way they bowled at the start was very good and the match was definitely worth it.”
He added: “It’s definitely good to spend some time out in the middle and play UAE for the first time. My fifty is very important. Getting runs out in the middle can give you a lot of confidence going into the first match on Wednesday.”
Shaiman Anwar top-scored with 41 runs
The UAE got off to a terrible start with Ashfaq Ahmed and Rohan Mustafa dismissed for ducks with not a single run on the board. From 17-3, the UAE recovered to post 117-6 thanks to Shaiman Anwar’s 41 runs.
The veteran batsman admitted he was under pressure to deliver after a poor start.
“As a senior player in the team I had to do something and that’s what I didn’t when the team was in crisis,” said the 39-year-old.
“We didn’t start well and couldn’t go after the bowling straightaway the way I would have liked. We upped the run rate but I should have stayed until the end. Had we managed 150 it would have been interesting.”
He added: “The Australians are a good side and in a very positive frame of mind. They will definitely be giving Pakistan a tough challenge in the T20 series.”
It was Amir Hayat’s T20 international debut and he did well by picking up two wickets. The medium-pacer revealed which wicket he cherished the most.
“More than the wicket of Aaron Finch, I would say I will cherish the wicket of Chris Lynn as I follow him very closely,” he said. “Lynn I knew could get out to slower ones as he is my favourite player and I follow him closely. It clicked for me today. I didn’t think I was bowling to the Australian batsmen and played as if it was a domestic match.”