The UAE won by five wickets against Canada in a thrilling Group D clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Friday.

Canada, batting first after winning the toss, set a target of 150 runs for the loss seven wickets in 20 overs, with middle-order batter Harsh Thaker providing the backbone of the innings with a half-century.

Five wickets from UAE bowler Junaid Siddique kept the Canadian scoring in check before a steady middle-overs partnership helped them post a defendable total.

In reply, UAE struggled in early game and slipped to 82 for 4, but a powerful innings from wicketkeeper-batter Aryansh Sharma and counterattack from Sohaib Khan’s quickfire fifty turned the tide, and UAE reached 151 runs for lose of Five wickets.

Junaid Siddique’s all-round contribution earned him the Player of the Match award as UAE climbed off the bottom of Group D standings with their first win of the tournament, while Canada suffered a second successive defeat.

The victory keeps the UAE’s hopes alive in a tightly contested group featuring New Zealand and South Africa, who have both made strong starts to the competition.