Miserly Mohammad Amir was again a driving force for Pakistan as they beat United Arab Emirates by seven wickets to stay in with a chance of winning the Asia Cup.
Amir, impressive already on the comeback trail following his worldwide five-year ban for spot-fixing, continued his brilliant form by taking 2-6 in four overs as UAE posted 129 for six in Dhaka.
Pakistan knocked off the runs, with eight balls to spare, thanks to a much-needed and unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 114 between Shoaib Malik, who made 63, and Umar Akmal, who finished on exactly 50 –
All-rounder Amjad Javed had put the chase in early trouble en route to figures of 3-36, but his stats would have made better reading had Umar and Malik not clubbed 23 off his final over.
Amir’s figures are no match for those of his former team-mate Umar Gul, who has twice taken 5-6 in Twenty20s – but they are the joint-second most economical on record from a full four overs.
Source: ECB