T Natarajan top-scores with 38 as India finish bottom of Group C at the Hong Kong Sixes

India were beaten by the United Arab Emirates in Mong Kok, a second defeat in two days that leaves them bottom of Group C and out of the Cup competition at the Hong Kong Sixes

India finished on 94 for 6 from their six overs at the Mission Road Ground on Saturday, and the UAE knocked the runs off inside five, reaching 97 for 0 with 10 balls remaining to win by six wickets.

It was a second straight defeat for Krunal Pandya's side, who had lost to Pakistan on Friday. Third place in the group sends India into the Bowl, the consolation bracket for the team finishing last in each pool.

The one Indian innings of substance came from T Natarajan, a left-arm seamer by trade, who made 38 from 14 balls as the last man standing.

Three down inside two overs

The UAE captain, Khalid Shah, put India in, and the decision was repaid almost immediately. India were 14 for 3 after 1.2 overs, with Nitish Rana, Rahul Tewatia and Shashank Singh all dismissed cheaply.

Zahid Ali took three of the wickets and was named player of the match. Muhammad Farooq and Mohammed Faraazuddin picked up one apiece.

In a format of six overs a side, three wickets inside the first two left India with little room to rebuild.

Natarajan holds the innings together

Rahul Tripathi provided the only quick counter-attack of the innings, making 24 from seven balls before he fell.

Pandya followed with 15 from eight balls. Natarajan was left to farm the closing overs and finished unbeaten on 38, the top score of the innings by 14 runs.

India batted out their six overs and closed on 94 for 6.

The total was well short of what the same ground produced elsewhere on Saturday, with Scotland making 144 for 4 against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan 125 for 2 against Oman.

Khalid Shah ends it in 4.2 overs

Khalid Shah then settled the match himself, hitting an unbeaten 52 from 14 balls with six sixes and three fours.

Ansh Tandon was almost as severe at the other end, finishing 39 not out from 12 deliveries as the pair took the UAE home without being separated.

India's bowling gave them nothing to defend. Natarajan conceded 43 runs in his two overs and Shashank Singh went for 17 in his only one, while Pandya was struck for two sixes as the chase closed.

A second batting failure in two days

India's opening match on Friday had followed a similar shape: Pandya was hit for five sixes in a row by Abbas Afridi as Pakistan completed the chase with overs in hand.

The UAE, by contrast, beat both India and Pakistan to top Group C and reach the Cup semi-finals.

Pakistan took second place in the group and go into the Plate competition.

Into the Bowl

India were drawn against England in the second semi-final of the Bowl, the bracket that decides places nine to twelve. England finished bottom of Group A after defeats by Hong Kong and Australia.

The Cup semi-finals pair Australia with the UAE and Afghanistan with Scotland. Bangladesh and South Africa met in the first of the Bowl semi-finals, South Africa winning by one wicket off the last ball.

The Bowl final, the Plate final and the Cup final are all scheduled for Sunday, the tournament's closing day.

Scorecard: India 94 for 6 (T Natarajan 38, Rahul Tripathi 24; Zahid Ali 3 wkts) lost to United Arab Emirates 97 for 0 (Khalid Shah 52*, Ansh Tandon 39*) by six wickets, with 10 balls remaining, at the Mission Road Ground, Mong Kok

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