Thursday was proud day for the United Arab Emirates cricket team as they took to the field for their first World Cup match in almost two decades.
– SCORECARD: Zimbabwe beat battling UAE in World Cup opener
– #KhurramKhanFacts takes Twitter by storm ahead of UAE match
– GALLERY: Who will clock up the most World Cup air miles?
– PLAY: Sport360’s World Cup Stick Cricket game NOW
They fell just short against Zimbabwe but it was a memorable day for UAE cricket. Our man on the ground Joy Chakravarty was watching live in Nelson, New Zealand – these are the pick of his tweets.
Believe it or not, that is a cloud out there at the horizon, and not the wake of a jet! @Sport_360 @NelsonTasmanNZ pic.twitter.com/DWvAKlYNSm
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
UAE gets to 30 after 7 overs. That’s 1/10th of what they would like to score after 50. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
Berenger (22) was looking good but that was the worst way to get out. Tried to be aggressive again bouncer and nicks it. @Sport_360 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
That brings in Khurram Khan to the crease. UAE 40-2. Time to live his dream. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
UAE get to their 50 in the 12th over. Khurram inside edges for a four. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
That was the shot a man in great form. Khurram caresses Mire to the cover boundary. UAE 56-2. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
Pulled away almost nonchalantly by Khurram for his second boundary this over. He moves to 13 in seven balls @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
Dear @Emirates, you should be very proud of this man. Khurram Khan – what a cricketer! @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM @EmiratesCricket
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
This is what Aaqib Javed told us before the match – Khurram is the best 43-year-old batsman in the world. And he wasn’t being sarcastic!
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
This is how the @Gatorade bottle looks like after the players are done with drinks!! @Sport_360 #CWC15 @ICC pic.twitter.com/0ky3MqNgAQ
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
That’s 100 up for the UAE. Chants of ‘UAE, UAE’ also go up! Khurram 32 and Karate 25. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
UAE are now 109-2. Will we get to a Nelson in Nelson? @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
Mire comes back and gets Karate (34) of the first ball. Needless rush of blood. UAE 122-3. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
That’s one enthusiastic groundskeeper! Started from the top of the mountain!! @Sport_360 #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/Fdvz5NArU6
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 18, 2015
Khurram Khan (45) departs as Williams take a great catch at point. That had 4 written on it. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM UAE 134-4
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Shaiman Anwar reaches his 50 in 37 balls with a superb six. UAE 204-4. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Swapnil Patil departs for a well-made 32. It’s all up to Shaiman now. UAE 216-5 in 41.4 overs. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Shaiman Anwar invents his own new shot! A top-edged scoop! Gets four though. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Naveed has a one-point agenda at the moment – hit it outta the park! @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Fast bowlers hunt in pairs – even when they are batting. Javed and Naveed bring up 50-run stand in 32 balls @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Excellent effort by the UAE as they finish on 285-7 in 50 overs. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
A late surge from @EmiratesCricket and their fans LOVE IT! Another SIX from UAE! #ZIMvUAE https://t.co/56RcVkhyGG
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 19, 2015
Is there a better way to spend your day? @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM @NelsonTasmanNZ pic.twitter.com/mrrDPS1OLR
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Javed’s bouncer rattles Raza’s head there. All safe. Zim 4-0 after 3 overs. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Six really good overs so far from the UAE. Zim 18-0. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Skipper does the trick! Tauqir gets rid of the dangerous Raza caught by Karate at point (46). Zim 64-1. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Big, big wicket that for the UAE. Masakadza goes, lbw to Javed for 1. Zim 72-2 now. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
How HOT is it today in Nelson for #ZIMvUAE? Why not let Lord Nelson tell you! #cwc15 https://t.co/yTg1aFfYWx
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 19, 2015
That’s one of getting them out. Chakabva slips on the backfoot & dislodges the bails to be hit wicket to Tauqir. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Get the feeling that a wicket now would turn this game in UAE’s favour. Zim 121-3 in 24.1 overs. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
That was a wee doosra from Aziz and Taylor is caught in front. Reviews decision, but will have to go. UAE 144-4 @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
GAME ON in Nelson! @EmiratesCricket fans believe history can be made in Nelson AGAIN today! #ZIMvUAE https://t.co/QxhEAkf7GQ
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 19, 2015
Encouragement of ‘jaayega, jaayega’ (will go, will go) for Naveed, and he delivers. Mire goes. Zim 167-5 @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
2,643 people is the official attendance figure.About 6.99997 billion missed all the fun. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Ervine and Williams are playing too sensibly for UAE’s liking. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Ten overs left in Nelson and fans are pumped for an exciting finish! #ZIMvUAE #cwc15 https://t.co/QbkQChO4Le
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 19, 2015
The match is slowly drifting away from the UAE. Zim now need 56 runs in 58 balls. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Almost over. UAE’s gallant effort will not count for much. Zim need 8 runs in 14 balls. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
All over for the UAE. They lose the match by four wickets. Sean Williams (76no) is the star. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #UAEvZIM
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) February 19, 2015
Williams the Winner! Great knock from Sean Williams leads Zimbabwe to tense 4 wicket win v UAE http://t.co/J8kaOsPJeg pic.twitter.com/L7uleckfUx
— ICC (@ICC) February 19, 2015
After an early scare, @ZimCricketv has its first #cwc15 points with a 4 wicket win over @EmiratesCricket #ZIMvUAE pic.twitter.com/m6lQofm1w5
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 19, 2015
