PAK vs UAE: Fakhar Zaman hit Back-to-back five 4s in the last over

Fakhar Zaman pushed the paddles at the right time when Pakistan needed it the most. In the 20th over of the first innings against the United Arab Emirates (PAK vs UAE), the Pakistan international smashed five boundaries in a row. Because of Zaman's flamboyant batting, Pakistan bounced back at Sharjah Cricket Stadium and registered a competitive total of 171 runs in 20 overs. 

After winning the toss, Salman Ali Agha, the Pakistan skipper, chose to bat first. The decision could have proved disastrous if Zaman and Mohammad Nawaz were not able to fight back against UAE bowlers. Zaman and Nawaz put together a 91-run partnership against 51 deliveries. Pakistan were reduced to 80/5 at one stage before Mohammad Nawaz joined Fakhar. From there, they dragged the run wheel over 170.

In the last couple of overs of the first innings, they fetched 42 runs. In the 19th over, after two singles in the first two balls, Nawaz smacked three boundaries and an over-boundary. Zaman took up the batting standards to the next level to add 22 runs from the final six balls of the innings. After taking a double, the southpaw hit 5 consecutive fours. The nature of the surface was not appropriate to make strokes effortlessly. Zaman scored his fifty in 34 balls; in total, the middle-order batsman scored an unbeaten 77 off 44 with ten boundaries and a couple of over-boundaries. Fakhar walked in to the crease when Pakistan was 28/1 with Sahibzada Farhan getting dismissed.

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A record breaking partnership 

As per a report from Cricbuzz, the 91*-run stand between Fakhar and Nawaz is Pakistan's highest for the sixth wicket or lower in the format, surpassing 82 between Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan against South Africa in Sydney during the T20 WC 2022

Nawaz accumulated 37 runs against 27 deliveries with three boundaries and two sixes and remained not out.