Vriitya Aravind heroics send UAE through to T20 World Cup Qualifier semi-finals

UAE will get the chance to play for a place in the T20 World Cup after Vriitya Aravind dragged them into the semi-final of the Qualifier in Muscat with an unbeaten 84.

The national team required 12 off the final over of their last pool match against Bahrain to snatch a place in the last four from their Gulf neighbours.

Aravind, the 19-year-old university student, singlehandedly smashed 24 runs off the over. UAE finished on 170-6 to lose the game by two runs, but they now have the chance to play off against one of Nepal, Oman or Canada for a place on the plane to Australia.

UAE had begun the day in confident mood. Starting with a run-rate cushion of 0.809 over Bahrain, and 0.975 over Ireland, the first over they sent down was a wicket-maiden by Basil Hameed.

From then on, though, the performance was worryingly tatty. Bahrain, who are 31st in the ICC rankings, reached 172 for five from their 20 overs.

David Mattias top scored with 46 not out and, between him and Haider Butt, Bahrain blazed 76 from the last six overs of the innings.

If UAE were to fall short of that and see their unbeaten run ended, they still required 158 to guarantee a semi-final place.

Their response was a nervy one after openers Muhummad Waseem and Chirag Suri each went cheaply.

Aravind and Rohan Mustafa then put on 91 for the third wicket before the latter fell for 41.

Happy/proud/relieved/shattered mum and dad … pic.twitter.com/qi3OSWeCdw

UAE required 32 to make it through in less than three overs when Mustafa fell. When Kashif Daud fell to the very next delivery, the national team's hopes seemed to be sunk.

Aravind, though, revived their prospects by hitting each of the next two deliveries from Imran Anwar over the ropes for six.

UAE also lost Hameed