By Krishna Dua 
USA Clinch Big Win Over UAE in 87th Match, League 2
October 28, 2025—In a clinical demolition that underlined their growing stature in international cricket, the United States of America (USA) cricket team secured a commanding 45-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the 87th match of League 2 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, propelling themselves closer to a semi-final berth in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2025. Batting first after winning the toss, USA recovered from a mid-innings wobble to post a challenging 158 for 6 in 20 overs, with captain Monank Patel’s resolute 52 off 42 balls providing the backbone and Harmeet Singh’s explosive 28 off 12 balls delivering the late surge. UAE, despite a valiant effort led by Muhammad Waseem’s fiery 68 off 38 balls, faltered in the chase, slumping from 150 for 3 to 158 all out in 19.3 overs, victims of USA’s spin wizardry spearheaded by Saurabh Netravalkar (3/25) and Nosthush Kenjige (2/18).
The match, a pivotal Group B encounter in the Super 12 stage, saw USA leapfrog to 8 points from 5 wins in 7 games (net run rate +0.85), while UAE tumbled to 4 points from 2 wins (NRR -0.45), their qualification hopes hanging by a gossamer thread with two matches remaining. Patel, who opted to bat on a pitch curator Salim Sheikh described as “balanced with early seam and later spin,” praised his team’s composure: “We backed our batters to post par, and the bowlers executed the plan—Harmeet’s finishing was pure gold.” UAE captain Rohan Mustafa, rueing the collapse, admitted: “Waseem gave us a fighting chance, but losing wickets in heaps cost us—USA’s spinners were spot on today.”
This thriller, under Dubai’s floodlit skies with a vibrant crowd of 16,000—60% UAE faithful, 40% USA expats—highlighted USA’s evolution from Associate minnows to major contenders, their first dominant win over a full member since the 2024 T20 World Cup upset of Pakistan. In this 2000-word report, we reconstruct the toss and team news, chronicle UAE’s innings, detail USA’s chase, spotlight key moments, profile star performers, analyze post-match reactions, assess Super 12 implications, trace historical context, gather expert insights, and forecast the qualifiers’ finale. On October 28, as Dubai’s dew descends, USA’s big win isn’t a fluke—it’s a forecast of their formidable future.
Toss and Team News: Patel’s Batting Bluff Turns Brilliant
USA captain Monank Patel’s decision at the toss in the 6:45 PM slot was a bluff that turned brilliant, calling correctly and opting to bat first on a pitch that assistant coach Pubudu Dassanayake labeled “grassy with seam early, but true for spinners in the second half.” Patel, the 30-year-old Gujarat-born opener averaging 28.57 in T20Is with 1,200 runs, reasoned: “The wicket has a bit of juice for our seamers later, but we fancy posting 160-170 and defending under dew—Harmeet and Gous can accelerate.” UAE skipper Rohan Mustafa, the 37-year-old all-rounder with 2,000 T20I runs at 24.00, accepted graciously: “Batting first is fine—Waseem and Sharafu will set the tone; our spinners Siddique and Tahuhu will grip the chase.”
USA persisted with their winning XI from the Scotland rout on October 26: Openers Monank Patel and Aaron Jones, middle-order anchors Andries Gous and Harmeet Singh, all-rounder Corey Anderson, finisher Nosthush Kenjige, and the bowling quartet of Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Jasdeep Singh, and Shadley Van Schalkwyk. UAE, adhering to their Ireland template, fielded openers Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu, with Rohan Mustafa at 3, followed by Vritiya Aravind, Basil Hameed, and the pace-spin mix of Junaid Siddique, Sanchit Sharma, and Muhammad Jawad Zafar.
Toss: Bluff’s brilliance, news’ nod.
UAE Innings: Waseem’s Warrior Flair to Fatal Fold
UAE’s innings was a warrior’s flair followed by a fatal fold, Rohan Mustafa’s choice to field first unraveling as USA’s seamers Saurabh Netravalkar and Ali Khan sliced through the top order, reducing UAE to 32 for 3 in the powerplay (overs 1-6). Netravalkar, the 32-year-old left-armer with 50 T20I wickets at 22.00 economy, opened the assault in the second over, trapping opener Alishan Sharafu lbw for 4 with a full delivery angling in to hit middle stump. Sharafu, UAE’s dynamic opener averaging 32 in the tournament, reviewed the call, but Hawk-Eye displayed three reds, quieting the 9,000 UAE supporters.
Ali Khan, the 32-year-old New York quick with 40 T20I wickets at 20.50, doubled the damage in the fourth over, coaxing an edge from Rahul Bhatia for 8 to first slip, where Aaron Jones snapped a sharp low chance. Bhatia, the wicketkeeper-batter, fished tentatively at Khan’s 135 km/h outswinger. Captain Rohan Mustafa, marching in at No. 3, survived a raucous lbw shout off Netravalkar in the fifth over—umpire Ahsan Raza’s not out decision upheld by DRS—but lost partner Vritiya Aravind for 12 in the 5.3 over, bowled by a Khan yorker that reversed to shatter off stump.
The fightback flickered with Muhammad Waseem’s warrior flair of 68 off 38 (8 fours, 4 sixes), the 35-year-old UAE linchpin with 2,000 T20I runs at 24.00, stitching a 60-run alliance with Basil Hameed (25 off 22). Waseem’s pull for six off Jasdeep Singh in the 10th over elevated the 50 in the ninth, but the fatal fold ensued in the 13th over, as Nosthush Kenjige’s left-arm spin snared Hameed lbw for 25, the review rebuffed. UAE lurched to 150 for 6 in 16 overs, Waseem’s wicket for 68 in the 17th over—caught at long-on off Netravalkar—sealing the surrender.
UAE’s tail trembled, Sanchit Sharma’s 12 off 8 the sole spark, as Kenjige (2/18) and Netravalkar (3/25) throttled the death overs, bundling UAE for 158 all out in 19.3 overs. Innings: Flair’s fatal, warrior’s wicket.
USA’s Chase: Patel’s Poise to Harmeet’s Heroic Heist
USA’s chase targeted 159 in 20 overs, and captain Monank Patel’s poise in the powerplay laid the platform with 52 off 42 (5 fours, 1 six), his 65-run opening stand with Aaron Jones (28 off 20) tempering the required rate to 8. Patel, the 30-year-old Gujarat-born anchor with 1,200 T20I runs at 28.57, rotated masterfully against UAE’s seamers Junaid Siddique and Sanchit Sharma, his cover drive for four off Siddique in the fifth over easing the equation.
The heroic heist arrived with Harmeet Singh’s 28 off 12 (3 fours, 2 sixes) in the 15th over, the 29-year-old California all-rounder with 500 T20I runs at 25.00 and 30 wickets at 22.00, slog-sweeping Rahul Bhatia for six to hoist the 150 in the 16th. Harmeet’s lunge, a lofted cover drive for four off Muhammad Jawad Zafar in the 19th over, clinched 159 for 6 in 19.4 overs.
Chase: Poise’s Patel, heist’s heroic.
Key Moments: Netravalkar’s Nip and Harmeet’s Lunge
Key moments crystallized the match. Netravalkar’s nip in the second over—lbw Sharafu for 4—strangled the start, his 3/25 including Waseem’s 68. Harmeet’s lunge in the 15th over—28 off 12—flipped 100/4 to 150/4, the six off Bhatia the pivot.
Moments: Nip’s Netravalkar, lunge’s late.
Player Performances: Patel’s Poise and Waseem’s Warrior
Monank Patel: Poise’s personification, 52 off 42, 1/28 economy. Muhammad Waseem: Warrior’s wicket, 68 off 38, 8 fours, 4 sixes—UAE’s lone light.
Performances: Poise’s Patel, warrior’s Waseem.
Post-Match Reactions: Patel’s Praise and Mustafa’s Mea Culpa
Patel: “Bowlers set the stage, Harmeet stole the show—team triumph.” Mustafa: “Waseem’s knock was world-class, but middle melted—USA earned it.”
Reactions: Praise’s Patel, culpa’s Mustafa.
Super 12 Implications: USA’s Semi Surge vs UAE’s Exit Edge
USA’s 8 points from 5 wins (NRR +0.85) surge to semi-final contention, UAE’s 4 points (NRR -0.45) edge to elimination. Implications: Surge’s semi, exit’s edge.
Historical Context: USA-UAE Rivalries in T20 Qualifiers
Rivalries historical: 2024 T20 WC Qualifier (USA 138/7 beat UAE 132/9—6-run thriller). Context: Rivalries’ roar, history’s heat.
Expert Insights: Agarkar’s Acumen and Mustafa’s Muse
Ajit Agarkar: “USA’s depth dazzles—Patel’s poise, Harmeet’s hit.” Rohan Mustafa: “Waseem’s warrior spirit inspires—next time, we triumph.”
Insights: Acumen’s Agarkar, muse’s Mustafa.
Fan Fervor: Social Media Storm and Stadium Symphony
Fervor frenzied, #USACrushedUAE 1.5 million tweets, Dubai’s ICC vigils 5,000 for “Patel’s Power!” UAE’s Sharjah rallies 4,000 chanting “Waseem Warrior.” Fervor: Storm’s social, symphony’s swell.
Conclusion
October 28, 2025, crowns USA’s 45-run crush of UAE in T20 WC Qualifier 87th match, 158-6 chasing 203 all-out. From Patel’s poise to Harmeet’s heroics, the victory vaults. As Mustafa muses and Agarkar acclaims, the Super 12 surges—USA’s ascent, UAE’s underdog.