India’s inconsistent form in the Hong Kong Sixes continued as they suffered yet another setback, this time against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). After an impressive start to the tournament with a victory over Pakistan, Dinesh Karthik’s men have since struggled to maintain their momentum — first losing to Kuwait in the group stage, and now going down to the UAE in the Bowl Round.
On Saturday, in the second match of the Bowl Round, UAE defeated India by four wickets. Batting first, India posted 107 for 3 in their allotted overs. In reply, UAE chased down the target in just 5.5 overs, losing only two wickets in the process.
India’s hopes of advancing to the Bowl Final have now taken a severe blow following this defeat. They are set to face Nepal and Sri Lanka in their remaining Bowl Round fixtures.
Match Summary
| Team | Innings | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 1st Innings | 107/3 | 5 overs | Lost by 4 wickets |
| UAE | 2nd Innings | 108/2 | 5.5 overs | Won |
India had a disastrous start, losing three wickets for just 12 runs within the first two overs. However, Abhimanyu Mithun and captain Dinesh Karthik rebuilt the innings with some explosive batting.
Mithun smashed his way to a 16-ball fifty, featuring four boundaries and five towering sixes, before being forced to retire as per tournament rules. Karthik remained unbeaten on 42 off 14 balls, striking four fours and four sixes.
For the UAE, Nilansh Keshani bowled superbly, taking two wickets for just 11 runs in his two overs.
In pursuit of the target, UAE’s captain Khalid Shah unleashed a brutal assault, scoring a rapid 50 off 14 balls with four fours and five sixes before retiring. His opening partner, Sagir Khan, contributed 31 runs from 11 deliveries, hitting one four and four sixes. Mohammad Afran later sealed the victory with an unbeaten 20 off five balls.
In Pool ‘C’, India, Pakistan, and Kuwait all finished with two points each, but India’s inferior net run rate saw them relegated to the Bowl Round. Pakistan and Kuwait, meanwhile, advanced to the quarter-finals.
The Bowl Round features the four third-placed teams from each group, with the Bowl Final deciding the ninth-best team in the overall tournament standings.
Despite flashes of brilliance from veterans like Karthik and Mithun, India’s inability to defend a strong total raises serious questions about their bowling depth and consistency in this fast-paced format.