UAE demolished by Dutch

97-3 (Cooper 37no), beat UAE 96 (Bukhari 4-32) by seven wickets in a WCL Championship match in Rotterdam Dubai: The UAE national cricket team suffered a heavy seven-wicket defeat to the Netherlands in the first of a two-match series in Rotterdam on Saturday. Despite the loss, the UAE have a chance to redeem themselves and stay second in the in the ICC World Cricket League Championships table when they play their second and last match against the Dutch today (Monday). The home side coasted past the UAE’s 96 all out after making 97 for three. Elected to bat by the Dutch, openers Amjad Ali and Haroon Iftikhar put on 25 for the first wicket before the UAE collapsed spectacularly to be bowled out for 96 runs inside 32 overs. Seamers Timmy van der Gugten and Mudassar Bukhari were the chief destroyers for the Dutch, bagging four wickets each; Bukhari finished with figures of 4-32. Rohan Mustafa showed some fight for the UAE with a battling 41 off 81 balls, but it wasn’t enough as the hosts were set a simple target. Mustafa was one of only three batsmen to reach double-figures in their innings. In reply, the Netherlands got off to a solid start as openers Michael Swart and Wesley Barresi safely negotiated the new ball and put on 41 before the loss of the first wicket. Tom Cooper walked in at number three and, along with Swart and later captain Peter Borren, anchored the run chase. Cooper finished unbeaten on 37 off 35 deliveries to see the Netherlands through to an easy seven-wicket win. For the UAE it was Ahmed Raza who was the lone bright spot with ball, taking two wickets in a losing cause. Paceman Manjula Guruge also chipped in with a wicket.