Exclusive: 'Well played, buddy'. UAE youngster earns praise from New Zealand star in Dubai T20

On an unforgettable Thursday evening, Aryansh Sharma almost took the UAE to the brink of a historic win over New Zealand in the first match of the T20 series in Dubai.

With the stunning 43-ball 60, the 18-year-old UAE opening batsman kept the home team alive before his dismissal put the Kiwis firmly in control.

The Tim Southee-led New Zealand, which made 155 for six, eventually won the match by 19 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

But it was Aryansh’s fearless batting on his T20 debut that won every spectator’s heart at the Dubai International Stadium.

Aryansh, who grew up idolizing Virat Kohli, has now revealed that he also earned the appreciation of New Zealand star Mitchell Santner after his knock.

It was a 'small gesture' from the Kiwi spinner, but it was something Aryansh would never forget, especially after making a half-century on T20I debut against an ICC full-member team.

“I didn’t have a chat (with any New Zealand players after the match), but yeah there was a small gesture from Mitchell Santner. After I got out, he gave a pat on my back and he said, ‘well played’,” Aryansh told the Khaleej Times on Friday.

“And even when we were shaking hands with the New Zealand team after the match, he again said, ‘well played, buddy.’ That was very sweet of him.”

Despite losing his batting partners at regular intervals at the other end, Aryansh single-handedly kept the UAE in the hunt for a famous win until the 15th over when the home team needed 40 off 30 balls.

“I was planning to be more aggressive after the 13th over. Then Basil Hameed’s wicket fell and I was told to wait until the 15th over,” he said.

“I was calculating in my mind, we had 40 runs in the last five overs. I was confident of chasing it down. But on the last ball of the 15th over, my wicket fell. That was very unlucky.”

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