Wow, a game of cricket with Pakistan involved. Never disappoints. There is something or the other going on all the time. They threatened an implosion today, but then the experience of Malik and the ability to adapt shown by Akmal joined hands to steer them towards safety. But a good game in which UAE did not back down and made their voices heard. That brings an end to proceedings from us here. Just in case you've forgotten, here's a reminder of the crackerjack which awaits us tomorrow. It's India against Sri Lanka (Again!). Join us for that one. For now, it's goodbye and good night!

Afridi: "In this format, you can't sit relaxed in the dressing room. Still making some mistakes which we can't afford. I just told batsmen to play their game, don't worry about the runs but don't lose wickets up front. When we took 3-4 wickets, we thought we would get them out for around 90-100. But they played well in the end which you expect in the T20 format. Would have been nice if we could have played this game before the India one, would have had a better idea of the conditions. Our next two games are very important against hosts Bangladesh and Sri Lanka."

Malik: "First six overs has been very crucial. If you survive them, then you can play your shots. We lost three early wickets but then me and Akmal got a partnership going. We had one thing on our mind that let's forget the run-rate and everything else. Let's just play them out. When confronted with a wicket like this, you get excited and you try to do everything with the ball. Bowl bouncers and such stuff. That's where we need to improve. Something we need to talk about. Can't afford such mistakes in big tournaments."

Shoaib Malik is the Man of the Match for his match winning fifty

Javed: "I think today, we changed our mind and batted first. Our target was 120 but we ended up with 10 extra. The plan was to take some early wickets which we got but couldn't capitalize. We are still learning. The partnership in between of Malik and Akmal took the game away from us. You have to contribute in your team's performance so I'm happy to score some runs and take early wickets to bring the game in our half. Need to take all those catches when playing against a top side. Maybe because of Pakistan's previous performance against India, our coach felt that 100 will be a fighting score."

History should tell you that dropped catches are upset inhibitors. The Malik-Akmal partnership had flourished past jitters and forward defences until Usman Mushtaq dropped that catch. UAE were done there and a sizzler turned bland. Much like Salman Khan, Pakistan delivers blockbusters. The script doesn't matter and nor do the critics; what matters is that it keeps people hooked. Coming on the back of an implosion measuring 83 decibels..err..runs, Pakistan didn't inspire, and a target of 130 looked par. Hopes of an upset gathered momentum when captain Amjad Javed buried Pakistan with figures of 3/13 spread over 3 overs. The supporting cast was just as they should be - delivering one frugal over after another without really hogging the limelight. But Malik was dropped en route to his fifty and Umar Akmal's largely defensive bat then roared, punishing Javed's fourth over for 23 to take Pakistan home.

Plenty of relief in that Pakistan dugout. They were given a real scare with Amjad Javed rioting through the top-order, but what a brilliant partnership. Now Afridi can rejoice and stroll onto the park. At one point, he was sitting nervously with helmet on not knowing what the post-match presser would be like. "UAE bowled outstandingly. Thankfully, we got a partnership going. It was a golden opportunity for me and I took some time in the middle. Good to carry the form from the PSL. Our team-management has given us lots of moral support," Umar Akmal is obviously a happy camper after the win. How well did he play too! Shifted gears quite smoothly after taking time to settle in. He also goes past Hafeez to be Pakistan's leading run-scorer in T20Is.

18.4 - Naveed to Shoaib Malik, FOUR, Pakistan have done the job. And fittingly, it's Malik to put the final nail. Shortish outside off, cuts it behind point and then calmly hugs his partner on a job well done

18.3 - Naveed to Shoaib Malik, no run, short of length delivery patted in front of backward point. Malik tries to nick a single, sent back

18.2 - Naveed to U Akmal, 1 run, sliced down to third man and it's a half-century for Akmal. Takes off his helmet, kisses the badge and gets a warm embrace from Malik. Tried to finish it with a blast, came down the track and wanted to carve it over extra-cover, was out of his reach though as he backed away, ended up slicing it

18.1 - Naveed to U Akmal, no run, surprises Akmal with a bit of extra bounce from a short of length, also nips back to hit the high part of the inside edge and rolls away towards mid-wicket

Mohammad Naveed [3.0-0-23-0] is back into the attack

One hit away now...

17.6 - Amjad Javed to Shoaib Malik, SIX, another one has left the Earth and landed in the stands over deep mid-wicket. It was an off-cutter, Malik picked it, waited for it and then heaved it with a furious willow. Nailed it

17.5 - Amjad Javed to Shoaib Malik, no run, length ball on off, and a forward defence. I promise, a good solid block

17.4 - Amjad Javed to U Akmal, 1 run, clipped off the pads to deep mid-wicket

17.3 - Amjad Javed to U Akmal, SIX, this is an assault. Pakistan are hurtling towards the finish line. Half-volley on middle, Akmal clears the front leg and whacks it over wide long-on

17.2 - Amjad Javed to U Akmal, FOUR, slower short ball outside off, bounces spongily and Akmal has controlled it beautifully. Rises on his toes, waits for it to come on and back-cuts it splitting short third man and backward point

17.1 - Amjad Javed to U Akmal, SIX, it's all crumbling apart for UAE. They've fought so hard. But now the inexperience is showing. Quite starkly I'm afraid. Full toss on leg-stump, Akmal flogged hard and whipped it over the square leg fence

Amjad Javed [3.0-0-13-3] is back into the attack

16.6 - Rohan Mustafa to U Akmal, 1 run, moves with the ball down the leg-side, and whips it to deep mid-wicket

16.5 - Rohan Mustafa to U Akmal, no run, another solid block to a flatter ball on the stumps

16.4 - Rohan Mustafa to U Akmal, no run, darted on middle and leg, Akmal is quite prepared now to defend with the required rate well within control

16.3 - Rohan Mustafa to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, fired in on the pads, flicked through mid-wicket

16.2 - Rohan Mustafa to Shoaib Malik, SIX, and again. This goes the distance. What's more, it's fifty for Shoaib Malik. He's taking Pakistan towards victory. Dances down to a full toss and clouts it high over the deep mid-wicket fence

16.1 - Rohan Mustafa to Shoaib Malik, FOUR, Malik is feasting now. Full toss from round the wicket, slogged away over mid-wicket

Rohan Mustafa [2.0-0-8-0] is back into the attack

15.6 - Shahzad to U Akmal, no run, well bowled. Right in the blockhole and squeezed into the off-side

15.5 - Shahzad to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, Usman Mushtaq has shelled a dolly and is now facing the fury of his captain. He is getting an absolute lambaste. Short ball which gets very big on Malik, but he still tries to hook it from over his head, never in control, the top edge loops to deep backward square where Mushtaq runs in, and it hit the heel of his palms and slipped out

15.4 - Shahzad to Shoaib Malik, no run, darted into the blockhole on off, dug out

15.3 - Shahzad to Shoaib Malik, FOUR, that's the tranquility Malik brings to this Pakistani lineup. He's rebuilt the chase so smoothly after those early jolts. And now is cashing in on some inexperience. Shimmies down to a full toss and drives it through extra-cover

15.2 - Shahzad to U Akmal, 1 run, ha, he tried to absolutely smoke the length ball, but it was pretty wide of off, could only swat it off the bottom of the bat towards long-on

15.1 - Shahzad to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, goes for the yorker but overcooks it and dishes out a full toss instead, driven to long-on

Mohammad Shahzad [3.0-0-12-0] is back into the attack

The last couple of overs have allowed Pakistan to stay in touch with the rate. With 7 wickets in the kitty, they should sail home. Focus on the word 'should'

14.6 - Ahmed Raza to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, drifting in with the arm towards middle and leg, nudged into the on-side and Malik will keep the strike

14.5 - Ahmed Raza to Shoaib Malik, no run, flatter just outside off, flat-footedly patted towards cover

14.4 - Ahmed Raza to Shoaib Malik, SIX, down the track and bang! Got right to the pitch of the ball, also beside it to swing through the line over long-on. Lovely flow of the bat

Malik backs away late, so late that Raza goes through and delivers. Dead ball..

14.3 - Ahmed Raza to Shoaib Malik, no run, flatter and sliding on towards middle and leg, punched to mid-wicket

14.2 - Ahmed Raza to U Akmal, 1 run, tossed up full on off, whipped in the air and lands just short of deep mid-wicket

14.1 - Ahmed Raza to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, Raza dares to keep it slower on off, but what he did well was cleverly pull the length back, Malik can only clip it through the vacant mid-wicket region. There was a thought given to a second, but that was quickly abandoned

Ahmed Raza [2.0-0-11-0] is back into the attack

13.6 - Naveed to U Akmal, no run, back of a length delivery outside off, Akmal tries to run it down to third man with an angled bat but when you offer so little of the willow, chances are that you aren't going to come off trumps. Fails to connect. A fruitful over then with 11 coming off it

13.5 - Naveed to U Akmal, no run, oooh, risky. Naveed is tempting fate here. Almost a similar good length ball like the previous one, but what he did on this occasion was put more effort. The pitch responded and the ball bounced over Akmal's swinging willow

13.4 - Naveed to U Akmal, SIX, utterly mowed over mid-wicket. Right in the slot on a good length just outside off, well within Akmal's vicinity and he unleashes a big hoick. Gets it right off the middle and it disappears

13.3 - Naveed to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, seeing the previous one disappear, Naveed digs it in on a short of length, gets it to climb towards Malik's ribcage and he tucks it behind square for a single

13.2 - Naveed to Shoaib Malik, FOUR, there's the boundary. Malik has infused the full ball with some good velocity using a lot of bottom hand to swat it wide of a chasing long-on. The fielder puts in a desperate dive in the deep but can't get a hand

13.1 - Naveed to Shoaib Malik, no run, length ball just outside off, Malik prods towards it and punches on the up to cover

Mohammad Naveed [2.0-0-12-0] is back into the attack

It's high time I think to unload. Can't let the rate get too far out of hand. Already moving towards 10 rpo..

12.6 - Rohan Mustafa to U Akmal, 2 runs, makes room and goes for an inside out drive over extra cover, went with soft hands and got it over the fielder. Some good running between the wickets takes care of the rest

12.5 - Rohan Mustafa to U Akmal, no run, on and around leg-stump again, Akmal goes for the glance but short fine is in business again

12.4 - Rohan Mustafa to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, full toss on leg-stump, Malik muscles it through mid-wicket, didn't time it that well. He certainly missed out on many deliveries that deserved a boundary

12.3 - Rohan Mustafa to U Akmal, 1 run, allows the ball to drift in and turns it behind square leg

12.2 - Rohan Mustafa to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, very full on middle, Malik goes for the cross-batted swat, toe-ends it to wide long-on

12.1 - Rohan Mustafa to Shoaib Malik, no run, flat on middle, flicked straight to mid-wicket

11.6 - Fahad Tariq to U Akmal, no run, back of a length on off, Akmal chops it to the left of backward point who runs around and dives full length to keep Shoaib Malik on strike for the next over. Saqlain Haider is the fielder there

11.5 - Fahad Tariq to U Akmal, no run, good length swerving in, in the corridor of uncertainty, not enough room for Akmal who looks to run it down to third man, beaten on the outside edge

11.4 - Fahad Tariq to U Akmal, FOUR, that's a flat six, is it? Looks like it landed just on the boundary hoardings. The TV umpire is having a look and it clearly landed just inside the ropes. It was full, Akmal shimmies down the pitch and lifts his drive over the fielder at mid-off. No one in the deep and the onfield umpire had to check whether it was a six or a four

11.3 - Fahad Tariq to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, fullish around fourth stump line, Malik push-drives in front of mid-on and hustles for a quick single

11.2 - Fahad Tariq to U Akmal, 1 run, not much pace on offer and Akmal can only nudge it towards deep square leg

11.1 - Fahad Tariq to U Akmal, 2 runs, 125ks, fraction full on off, Akmal shuffles and throws the kitchen sink at it. Went hard on the slog and it runs off the inside half towards deep backward square

Fahad Tariq, comes into the attack

So, the equation now reads 79 from 54. This pair looks settled and UAE have to get some quick wickets if they are to create more jitters in the Pakistani dressing room...

10.6 - Rohan Mustafa to Shoaib Malik, no run, darted down leg, Malik misses out on a freebie there. Goes for the glance but hits it straight to the fielder at short fine

10.5 - Rohan Mustafa to Shoaib Malik, no run, good length on and around off, driven back to the bowler

10.4 - Rohan Mustafa to U Akmal, 1 run, around middle and off, fullish in length, Akmal twirls his wrists on the flick, behind square leg for a single

10.3 - Rohan Mustafa to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, on leg-stump line, Malik wrists it square on the leg-side

10.2 - Rohan Mustafa to U Akmal, 1 run, full and at the stumps, Akmal clears his front leg and slams it to long-on

10.1 - Rohan Mustafa to U Akmal, no run, flat on middle, Akmal clips it to short fine

Rohan Mustafa, right-arm medium, comes into the attack

9.6 - Shahzad to Shoaib Malik, FOUR, ah! After all those tight deliveries in the over, he caps off with a poor delivery. Down leg, Malik just had to get some bat on that. He does so with a flick and it races away to the fine leg fence

9.5 - Shahzad to Shoaib Malik, no run, back of a length around off, Malik middles the punch but straight towards the fieldsman at backward point

9.4 - Shahzad to Shoaib Malik, no run, very full at 134ks, just outside off and Malik lunges forward in defence

9.3 - Shahzad to Shoaib Malik, no run, 124ks, length ball at the stumps, Malik push-drives with a closed bat face towards mid-wicket

9.2 - Shahzad to Shoaib Malik, 2 runs, back of a length and well wide of off, Malik leans on his back leg and flays the cut to the left of a diving backward point

9.1 - Shahzad to U Akmal, 1 run, off-cutter at the stumps, Akmal walks across and drops it into the leg-side, gets across for a quick single

8.6 - Ahmed Raza to U Akmal, 1 run, low full toss around off, Akmal drills it to long-on

8.5 - Ahmed Raza to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, flicked through mid-wicket

8.4 - Ahmed Raza to Shoaib Malik, no run, loud appeal from the bowler but nothing from his colleagues. It was drifted in and went on with the angle, Malik was on the front foot trying to block. Missed and is rapped on the pad en route to the keeper. Might have been just outside the line of off and replays suggest the same

8.3 - Ahmed Raza to Shoaib Malik, no run, nearly a return catch! Keeps it full and around off, Malik was a tad early into the drive and it tantalizingly fell short of the bowler

8.2 - Ahmed Raza to Shoaib Malik, FOUR, offers width and Malik pounces on it. Goes deep inside the crease and clobbers the cut behind backward point. Sweeper cover runs to his left and puts in a full length dive, but that wasn't good enough

8.1 - Ahmed Raza to Shoaib Malik, no run, tossed up around off, defended back to the bowler

7.6 - Shahzad to U Akmal, 2 runs, waits for this back of a length delivery and lat-cuts it down to third man for another brace

7.5 - Shahzad to U Akmal, 2 runs, full again, Akmal moves around the crease and slots the flick wide of the fielder at mid-wicket, good enough for a couple of runs

7.4 - Shahzad to U Akmal, no run, keeps it full and straight, Akmal flicks but cannot get it past mid-wicket

7.3 - Shahzad to U Akmal, no run, that was a brilliant effort! Saqlain was the fielder there at point. Dives full length to his right and fields the ball one-handed. Was air-borne while doing so. It was a short of length delivery outside off and Akmal cracked the cut off the back foot and that effort nearly saved a boundary

7.2 - Shahzad to U Akmal, no run, full and sprayed down leg, Akmal shuffles a tad and fails to flick. Hit on the pad in front of middle and leg but the angle might have taken it down leg. No real appeal

7.1 - Shahzad to U Akmal, no run, good length, at 122ks around off, solidly punched towards mid-off

Mohammad Shahzad [1.0-0-1-0] is back into the attack

Umar Akmal pulls off just when Shahzad was about to deliver...

6.6 - Ahmed Raza to U Akmal, 1 run, somewhat flatter and Akmal drives it through mid-off for a single, retains the strike with that run

6.5 - Ahmed Raza to U Akmal, no run, goes deep inside the crease to make up for the angle in and nudges it into the leg-side

6.4 - Ahmed Raza to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, this is Herath like but twice as slower. Tossed up wide of off, Malik eases it down to long-off

6.3 - Ahmed Raza to U Akmal, 1 run, a touch dragged down but Pakistan have propelled themselves into a position where they can only get their bat high for a punchy single to long-on

6.2 - Ahmed Raza to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, teasingly slow through the air. Drifts in on a very full length on middle. Worked to long-on again

6.1 - Ahmed Raza to U Akmal, 1 run, flighted delivery outside off, Akmal gets taller to ride the bounce and punches it to long-on

Ahmed Raza, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack

104 in 84 balls. Can't say this is achievable with certainty. Pakistan's recent batting history doesn't allow me to

5.6 - Amjad Javed to Shoaib Malik, no run, fullish and on off, skid into Malik who hurries into his flat-footed defence

5.5 - Amjad Javed to Shoaib Malik, no run, full and outside off, Malik shoulders arms

5.4 - Amjad Javed to Shoaib Malik, FOUR, that was worth the wait. Overpitched, Malik nicely gets forward, flows into a drive through extra cover and gets his elbow to say hello to the heavens in his followthrough

5.3 - Amjad Javed to Shoaib Malik, 2 runs, length on middle, Malik twirls it round the corner and comes back for the second. Singles and braces will do

5.2 - Amjad Javed to U Akmal, 1 run, this veered into the pads. Perhaps this was the intention last ball too. Akmal clips this one-legged, off the inside half and to backward square leg for a single

5.2 - Amjad Javed to U Akmal, wide, not ideal. Splays this wide down leg, Akmal turns around trying to get some bat but it was just too wide

5.1 - Amjad Javed to U Akmal, no run, very full outside off, Akmal creates some space and squeezes it out to mid-off

Amjad will continue..

4.6 - Shahzad to Shoaib Malik, no run, fullish and outside off, Malik stretches forward and defends it. 7 balls now and he is yet to get off the mark

4.5 - Shahzad to Shoaib Malik, no run, off-pace and fuller on off, Malik eases it down in front of mid-on

4.4 - Shahzad to U Akmal, 1 run, within the stumps, Akmal lets the ball arrive and turns it round the corner. A single, yes a single

4.3 - Shahzad to U Akmal, no run, back of a length delivery, Akmal widens his stance to punch it square, gets it off the under-edge that thumps the pitch

4.2 - Shahzad to U Akmal, no run, gets it to bounce a touch more and Akmal ends up splicing the ball towards mid-on. A run hinted at but aborted, could have been taken seeing the fielder's looping throw over the stumps at the bowler's end

4.1 - Shahzad to U Akmal, no run, this is lovely. Test match ettiquettes in a T20. Pitched up and curling away, Akmal shoulders arms

Mohammad Shahzad, right-arm medium, comes into the attack

Time for Mohammad Shahzad who's sporting a headband

3.6 - Amjad Javed to Shoaib Malik, no run, this is ripping stuff. Incredible. Frugal. Stunning. Gets this full ball to swing in from outside off, Malik reached out for the defence but the ball sneaked past the inside edge

3.5 - Amjad Javed to Shoaib Malik, no run, well, almost! Stay put Malik. Full ball dangled outside off, Malik lazily gets forward and pokes out at a drive. not to be. Beaten

3.4 - Amjad Javed to Shoaib Malik, no run, hurls this with a bit of shoulder, gets this length delivery to bound up and Malik gets his bat higher in his defence

3.3 - Amjad Javed to Shoaib Malik, no run, length ball outside off, Malik was late to bring his bat down but does well to hurry and keep this out

3.2 - Amjad Javed to Shoaib Malik, no run, no forward defence can make up for these three wickets. Malik gets forward and graveyards this length ball near his boot

Shoaib Malik, right handed bat, comes to the crease

3.1 - Amjad Javed to Hafeez, out Caught by Fahad Tariq!! This is like taking a gun, shooting on your foot and jumping in pain. Gets a full delivery to drive, Hafeez does oblige with one but fails to keep it down. And off the toe-end too. Tariq at cover shuffles to his left and pouches it to invite wild celebrations. Amjad Javed had his arms wide while running and lets out puffs of air to highlight Pakistan's batting diffidence. Oh, the drama! Hafeez c Fahad Tariq b Amjad Javed 11(12) [4s-2]

Amjad Javed to Hafeez, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

3.1 - Amjad Javed to Hafeez, wide, fullish ball swinging past the tramline, a careful Hafeez lifts his bat and lets it go

What has Javed for us this over? Hafeez on strike

2.6 - Naveed to U Akmal, no run, length ball that stays a touch low. Very disciplined in the corridor of uncertainty, Akmal gets behind and blocks it with a low bat

2.5 - Naveed to Hafeez, 1 run, just back of a length outside off, Hafeez stood taller and punched it to third man for a single

Naveed is hitting 140s in this over

2.4 - Naveed to Hafeez, no run, gets his front leg across and defends this fullish delivery with an open blade to point

2.3 - Naveed to Hafeez, FOUR, goes full to hit the pads, Hafeez meets it with a deft clip. Off the middle and the ball scoots away through mid-wicket

2.2 - Naveed to Hafeez, no run, very similar delivery. No room to swing a cut. Hafeez hops as he blunts it into the ground

2.1 - Naveed to Hafeez, no run, absolutely cramps him for room with a length delivery on off, Hafeez slides deep to dig it into the pitch

In hindsight, what will this 2-wicket over mean?

1.6 - Amjad Javed to U Akmal, no run, overpitched outside off, Akmal was behind it to thump it straight back to the bowler. Amjad Javed bent low to field or else that would have legged away

Umar Akmal, right handed bat, comes to the crease

1.5 - Amjad Javed to Manzoor, out Caught by Swapnil Patil!! Oh Pakistan! You started just as we feared. Manzoor had his soles glued to the pitch, just threw his bat at a back of a length delivery that zoomed off the pitch. Manages a feather and the keeper collects it to jump for joy. Manzoor c Swapnil Patil b Amjad Javed 0(2)

Amjad Javed to Manzoor, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

1.4 - Amjad Javed to Manzoor, no run, closes his bat face and defends this length ball towards mid-wicket

Khurram Manzoor, right handed bat, comes to the crease

1.3 - Amjad Javed to Sharjeel Khan, out Lbw!! Such a late, late appeal that you cannot be faulted if you changed your idiot box's channel. Pitches this on a length on leg-stump and gets it to swing back in, hits Sharjeel Khan's right pad, above the kneeroll. Amjad Javed's appeal had almost waned off when the umpire decided to steal the thunder with a finger-hoisting. First down. That was missing the leg-stump, the HawkEye says. Sharjeel Khan lbw b Amjad Javed 4(3) [4s-1]

Amjad Javed to Sharjeel Khan, THAT'S OUT!! Lbw!!

1.2 - Amjad Javed to Sharjeel Khan, FOUR, plonk your front leg across and club it through the covers. Gets a length ball, swings his bat and times the drive away to the fences

1.1 - Amjad Javed to Sharjeel Khan, no run, fullish outside off, Sharjeel eases the defence into the off-side

Amjad Javed, right-arm medium, comes into the attack

0.6 - Naveed to Hafeez, FOUR, that's a beautiful way to cap the over. Naveed pitches it further up greedily, Hafeez bends low and eases the ball down the ground. Off she goes!

0.6 - Naveed to Hafeez, wide, length hurled down leg, Hafeez misses his tickle

0.5 - Naveed to Hafeez, no run, this is like Steyn but at a much slower pace. Gets this one to swing in, Hafeez looks to clip it through leg but a leading edge finds its way back to the bowler. Looks a bit tentative with the curl on offer

0.4 - Naveed to Hafeez, no run, pitches this full outside off and hits the bat hard. Hafeez jabs the defence back down the pitch

0.3 - Naveed to Hafeez, 2 runs, this threatened to come in. Hafeez hurriedly clips it off his pads, gets his inside edge in action and gets a brace to fine leg

0.2 - Naveed to Hafeez, no run, good swing on this one too. Full, in the channel and moving away to see Hafeez shoulder arms

One slip

0.1 - Naveed to Hafeez, no run, pitches it on a fullish length and gets it to curl away, Hafeez lifts his bat and lets it go

Hafeez and Sharjeel Khan are at the crease. Hafeez is on strike. Naveed will open the attack