Mark Chapman, Will Young Guide New Zealand To T20I Series Win Over UAE

Will Young and Mark Chapman both scored half-centuries as New Zealand cruised to a 32-run victory against the UAE in their third Twenty20 international on Sunday, clinching the series 2-1.

Young top-scored with 56, one of three changes from the visitors' startling seven-wicket loss on Saturday, while Chapman struck 51 for his second successive half-century in New Zealand's solid total of 166-5.

The hosts couldn't get going when captain Muhammad Waseem (8) floated a catch to wicketkeeper Tim Seifert in Ben Lister's (3-35) first over, and were eventually bowled out for 134-7.

New Zealand, without several key T20 batsmen, struggled on slow wickets after captain Tim Southee lost his third consecutive toss and was forced to bat first for the third time in a row.

Before Young and Chapman controlled the spinners in the middle overs, Seifert (13) and Chad Bowes (9) fell during the batting powerplay while aiming for flashy strokes against pace.

Both hitters had an 84-run third-wicket stand in 10 overs, with Young hitting seven boundaries and a six, before falling in the later half of the innings against seamer Junaid Siddique's return spell. Siddique finished with a 3-26.

Siddique caught Young at extra cover with a magnificent slower bouncer, while Chapman, who smacked five fours and two sixes, holed out to deep backward square leg while attempting for a huge hit against the right-arm seamer.

Mitchell Santner scored 20 not out off 11 balls, including a last-ball six, as New Zealand reached the highest total of the series.

Adithya Ashok, a 20-year-old debutant legspinner, impressed with his steady bowling as the hosts fell to 53-5 inside the first nine overs. Despite collecting 68 runs for the sixth wicket with Basil Hameed, who remained unbeaten on 24, No. 7 hitter Aayan Afzal Khan top scored with 42 off 36 balls, the UAE was always behind.

Lister took two wickets in his final over, including Khan, who was caught at mid-off. New Zealand won the first game of the series by 19 runs.