UAE continued to gain respect for their fighting qualities, despite a heavy defeat to the West Indies which could have been a great deal more embarrassing.
– #360LIVE: Pakistan vs Ireland – Pool B decider in Adelaide
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The final Pool B match for the UAE and West Indies was a must-win for the Caribbeans, and they needed to make sure they won by a margin that made their net run rate better than that of both Pakistan and Ireland, who are playing the final group match of the tournament in Adelaide.
West Indies managed to do both. After restricting the UAE to 175 all out in 47.4 overs, West Indies needed to chase down the target inside 36.2 overs to get the net run rate in their favour, and they crossed the line in the 31st over.
UAE finished their campaign with no wins from their six pool stage matches.
However, it could have been a lot easier for them, when after winning the toss and electing to bowl first, they reduced the UAE to 46 for six wickets in the 14th over.
With Cyclone Pam lurking, they had to switch on the lights to dispel the gloom in Napier. @Sport_360 #CWC15 #WIvsUAE pic.twitter.com/lB2GvpmT9M
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) March 15, 2015
There were good reasons for Jason Holder to ask the UAE to bat. The most significant being they would be aware of the run rate at which they needed to score, but equally important was to make use of the new ball under heavily overcast conditions created by the approaching Cyclone Pam.
Holder led from the front in that department, bowling his ten overs off the reel, and rattling the UAE top order with seam movement and pace. The West Indies skipper finished with figures of 4-27.
And yet, the UAE again managed to put together a century partnership for the seventh wicket – this time between Amjad Javed (56, 99 balls, 7×4, 1×6) and Nasir Aziz (60, 86b, 8×4). The two shared a stand of 107 runs, matched the efforts of Javed and Shaiman Anwar in their second match against Ireland.
Both players completed their maiden ODI half-centuries, which was creditable after Holder instigated a top-order collapse, having openers Andri Berenger and Amjad Ali, and Krishna Karate back in the pavilion with the total at 17.
These three guys pop up every now and then like the Fiesta Trio in #Dora the Explorer!! @Sport_360 #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/Clkjh7NrlY
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyOfCricket) March 14, 2015
Fellow paceman Jerome Taylor chipped in at the other end, removing Khurram Khan and Shaiman Anwar to leave the side reeling at 5-26.
The West Indies, who were without their talismanic opener Chris Gayle – ruled out with a back injury and replaced by Johnson Charles – went on a leather hunt in reply.
They took their batting Powerplay as early as the 12th over, and stepped off the gas only when the fourth wicket fell in the form of Andre Russell at 118 in the 18th over. Test captain Denesh Ramadin then joined Jonathan Carter (50 not out, 58b, 5×4) and the duo then took their team past the target in 30.3 overs.
Charles was the top-scorer for West Indies with 55 (40b, 9×4, 2×6), but Holder was named Man of the Match.
