India outplayed UAE in both batting and bowling in their clash on Thursday. First Indians reduced UAE to a mere total of 81-9 in 20 overs and then followed it up with a brilliant batting performance to win the match by 9 wickets and 59 balls to spare. Here we have listed the five major turning points of the match that made the difference between the two sides-

#1) Indian Bowlers Hunting in Pairs : It is very rare to see bowlers striking in pairs. However, Bhuvneshwar & Bumrah and then Harbhajan & Pandya did so as they struck in pairs at regular intervals to reduce UAE to 31-3 in their first 10 overs. Youngster Negi and veteran Yuvraj Singh also chipped in with a wicket each in the later stages. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the most impressive of the Indian bowlers with figures of 2-8 in 4 overs that included 2 maidens.

#2) Shaiman Anwar’s Fighting Innings: When wickets were tumbling at the other end Shaiman Anwar played a fighting Knock of 43 off 48 balls before being dismissed on the penultimate ball of the innings. He stood out as the lone warrior for UAE and ensured that they play out full 20 overs.

#3) Brilliant Fielding efforts by the Indians: Besides being spot on with their bowling, the Indians fielded brilliantly as well. Pandya took a brilliant catch at long on to dismiss Kaleem of Yuvraj’s bowling.

Then it was followed by a brilliant run-out by Negi of his own bowling. Indian Skipper Dhoni was again seen at his brutal best behind the stumps as he kept troubling the UAE batsmen with his glove-work.

#4) Indian Openers get off to a flying start : Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan got India off to a flying start with a 43-run stand between them. Rohit Sharma scored 39 of them before being dismissed by Qadeer Ahmed in the 6th over. They set the platform for the other batsman to come in and finish the game.

#5) Yuvraj Singh’s Promotion to No.3:Yuvraj Singh came in to bat at no. 3 instead of Virat Kohli and played a quick-fire 25 off 14 balls which included 4 boundaries and 1 six. He hit the winning runs as he smashed Mohammad Shahzad for a boundary on the 1st ball of the 10th over.