The United Arab Emirates beat Namibia by five wickets, thanks to a brilliant 100-run partnership between Saqib Ali and Khurram Khan to win the ICC Cricket League Division Two Trophy 2011, played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Earlier Namibia won the toss, elected to bat first and posted 200 when they were all out in 49.3 overs. The only solid partnership was witnessed for the third wicket between Sarel Burger and Captain Craig Williamswhich contributed 91-runs. Williams was their top scorer with 58-runs followed by Burger who scored 42-runs.
UAE’s Saqib Ali and Nasir Aziz grabbed three wickets each, Shadeep Silva took two wickets as Ahmed Razahad a single wicket.
The UAE got an early shock when they lost two quick wickets with only 14-runs on the board. Opener Arshad Ali and the middle-order batsman Saqib Ali put their heads down, took the responsibility on their shoulders and started crafting the innings. They posted a fifty runs partnership for the third wicket in the 19th over and worked the ball in the gaps. They could not continue further as Arshad was caught by Burger on the bowling ofLouis Klazinga with the total on 72 runs.
A lot was expected from the seasoned batsman Shaiman Anwar, but he disappointed all as he was caught and bowled by Kola on a duck with the addition of just one run to the total. Khurram Khan, the Captain of the UAE came to the crease and steadied the innings with Saqib and achieved the hundred of the innings in the 28thover. Both started playing aggressive cricket and Saqib completed his fifty in the 31st over supported with seven fours as Khurram kept on securing the other end while stealing runs as well.
They laid a solid foundation by escalating a century partnership for the fifth wicket as Williams used eight bowlers to dislodge them. Khurram also completed his fifty in the 41st over, as his half century included six fours. The partnership was broken on 173 runs when Saqib was declared leg before wicket off Klazinga. He gave a stand out performance by scoring 73 runs off 116 balls aided with 10 fours.
Khurram took over from there and thrashed the winning runs, as he remained unbeaten on 60 runs. Amjad Javed played a dashing and unbeaten innings of 20 runs in 12 balls with a six and two fours.
Klazinga and Kola Burger took two wickets each as Sarel Burger claimed a wicket as well.
The UAE achieved 201 runs in 45.3 overs for the loss of five wickets and won the ICC World Cricket League Division Two, 2011.
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