UAE wrap up series against Netherlands

The UAE put up a clinical all-round performance to canter to another shocking win over The Netherlands and clinch the three-match 50-over series.

The UAE, ranked right at the bottom in the eight-team World Cricket League (WCL), defeated the top ranked Dutch side by five wickets at the Voorburg ground in The Netherlands on Wednesday.

For the second successive match, the Dutch won the toss and elected to take first strike.

The move seemed to have paid dividends when they had two substantial partnerships. First, Wesley Barresi and Stephan Myburgh put on 70 runs for the opening wicket, and later Borren Cooper and Saqib Zulfiqar raised 78 for the fourth wicket.

But in between UAE's Mohammed Naveed (3 for 50) and Shaiman Anwar (3-31) kept pegging away with wickets to ensure the hosts were reduced to 239 for 9 in 50 overs, when at one stage a score of 250-plus looked on the cards for the hosts. Borren once again top-scored for the hosts with 47, his knock consisting of a six and five fours. Openers Wesley Barrei (34), Stephan (39), Saqib Zulfiqar (31) and Logan van Beek (31) were the other contributors.

UAE began their chase on a positive note with captain Rohan Mustafa leading from the front again. Rohan and Chirag Suri realised 54 runs before Chirag departed. But Ghulam Shabbir joined Rohan and together they stitched another 50 runs for the second wicket.

Rohan struck seven fours for his 58, while Shabbir played a sedate 37 from 63 balls.

However, Rameez Shahzad upped the scoring with two sixes and two fours during his 55-ball stay at the wicket for his 44 runs. But it was Mohammed Usman who came to UAE's rescue again with a classy unbeaten 42, while Adnan Mufti gave him good company with an unbeaten 20 as UAE crossed the finish line with 10 balls to spare.

The third and final fixture will be played on Thursday.

Source: Khaleej Times