Sports
New Zealand clinch T20 series as hosts UAE blink in decider
One that got away: Basil Hameed dives to catch, in vain, a shot from Will Young of New Zealand. Photos courtesy ECB
A young UAE side capitulated at the doorstep of creating history at the Dubai International Stadium when they lost a three-match series of Twenty20 Internationals 2-1 on Sunday to New Zealand. The hosts, playing a day after notching a first against a Test-playing side, lost by 32 runs to a side who also had a few youngsters but still placed higher on the experience quotient.
Saturday saw the UAE have their biggest night in white-ball cricket when New Zealand could only put up a meagre score of 142. While the Kiwis focused on their batting in the decider and showed they learnt their lessons in posting a target of 167, the UAE batsman blinked when it mattered the most in chasing what was a par score for the ground.
The top order collapsed and the blame started with the captain Muhammed Waseem himself. The in-form senior player did not take strike and a young Aryansh Sharma played out a maiden over. Waseem hit the first two balls of the second over for two boundaries; a healthy comeback. And then he needlessly charged out in pre-determined fashion and only managed to knick the next ball behind.
The urge to dominate continued even with the other batsmen, especially Vriitya Aravind and Asif Khan, the other explosive batsman in form. For three consecutive times off the experienced Kyle Jamieson, Aravind tried to pick a ball from well outside the offstump to the leg side and duly holed out to short square leg kept only for that miscue.
Asif tried to curb his attacking instincts as he milked some singles. Rookie spinner Adithya Ashok then tempted him with flighted deliveries, one of which even took a top-edge and went for a streaky boundary. And Asif Khan took the bait and sent another down the throat of Rachin Ravindra at long-on. To make matters worse Ansh Tandon was run out to a direct hit and the UAE were reeling at 53-5.
Third T20I:
Will Young and Mark Champman star for New Zealand with enterprising 50s#UAEvNZ pic.twitter.com/AyyOuSbEXU— UAE Cricket Official (@EmiratesCricket) August 20, 2023
Aayan Khan and Basil Hameed then showed how it needed to be done. There were some risks taken and yet the scoreboard kept ticking despite batting not being their specialty. Aayan left for a well-crafted 42 from 36 balls with four boundaries and a six, but it was a little too late.
Earlier, the UAE bowlers got the first two wickets early enough despite New Zealand going strong at 35 after the first five overs. As Will Young and Michael Chapman tried to consolidate and slowed down in the bowlers, the UAE captain Waseem used up all four overs of Aayan Khan in one stretch while Mohamed Jawadullah and Junaid Siddique bowled with purpose in their two spells.
In the end, slow and steady New Zealand won the race in trying conditions. They head to England next and then some of the players will be on the plane to India for the 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup.
Brief scores:
UAE 134-7 (Aayan Khan 42, Mitchell Santner 1-21, Ben Lister 3-35) lost to New Zealand 166-5 (Will Young 56, Mark Chapman 51, Junaid Siddique 3-26)
Junaid Siddique took three wickets for the UAE, but his effort went in vain. Courtesy ECB
Emirates Dubai 7s is returning to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, with tickets now on sale for the three-day sports and entertainment festival.
The 2026 edition will bring together international rugby, amateur sports, live music and family entertainment, with organisers promising a bigger programme than previous years.
The festival attracted more than 88,000 visitors in 2025 and will again take place during the final weekend of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
Ticket prices
Ticket prices for General Admission and Hospitality have stayed the same for a third consecutive year.
Three-day General Admission tickets cost Dh595 per person, while the three-day Family Pass is Dh1,136 for two adults and two children.
Other ticket options
- Group pass: Dh446 per person for four or more adults
- Saturday or Sunday: Dh455
- Friday: Dh75
- Under 15s: Free
- People of Determination + carer: Dh375
Tickets can be purchased through the Emirates Dubai 7s website and app.
Bigger family attractions
Family entertainment will get a major boost this year as the UAE celebrates the Year of the Family.
The festival will feature its biggest-ever Kids’ Zone, including the UAE’s largest inflatable kids’ zone, along with a Ferris wheel and zipline. More attractions are expected to be announced ahead of the event.
Six sports and top rugby action
Alongside elite rugby, visitors can watch or take part in competitions across six sports — rugby, netball, cricket, WODON3 fitness, Rebound padel and Gaelic Football.
Gaelic Football will join the festival for the first time in 2026.
The Sevens Stadium will also host the opening round of the HSBC SVNS Series 2027, bringing the world’s leading rugby sevens players to Dubai.
The WODON3 Elite final will take place on Pitch 1 between HSBC SVNS matches, with competitors potentially performing in front of crowds of up to 20,000.
Music all weekend
Live entertainment will run throughout the festival, with local and international artists performing across three days.
Last year’s line-up included Tinie Tempah, Sean Paul and Fisher, while the 2026 headline acts will be announced later.
For a premium experience, The Sunroom returns with all-inclusive food and drinks, shaded seating, prime sporting views and dedicated access. Packages start from Dh1,925 per person.
With sport, music and family attractions packed into one weekend, Emirates Dubai 7s is gearing up for another big Dubai event.
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