An all-round showing from Ashfaq Ahmed helped the UAE crush Netherlands by seven wickets in the fourth and final T20I between the two sides at The Hague.
Ashfaq Ahmed’s 75-run knock helped the visitors chase down a target of 151 with two balls to spare and in effect inflict a 4-0 whitewash over the Netherlands.
Netherlands skipper Pieter Seelar won the toss and elected to bat first but his men were restricted to 150-6 in their 20 overs after some disciplined bowling by the UAE.
Sultan Ahmed was the pick of the UAE bowlers with the left-arm spinner picking up the wickets of Max O’Dowd and Scott Edwards during his four-over spell. Ashfaq Ahmed was excellent with the ball as well with his off-spin fetching the wicket of the dangerous Stephan Myburgh.
RESULT @EmiratesCricket (153/3/19.4) wins by 7 wickets finishing the series 4-0. #NEDvUAE pic.twitter.com/MYoIvax4N9
— Cricket🏏Netherlands (@KNCBcricket) August 8, 2019
Qadeer Ali leaked 50 runs in his four overs but none of the Netherlands batsmen were able to convert their starts under some tight bowling by the remaining UAE bowlers.
In reply, UAE lost opener Zawar Farid early but Ashfaq Ahmed and Ghulam Shabber took control of the run chase in brilliant style to scrip a comprehensive win for the visitors in the end.
The duo put on a 110-run stand for the second wicket which effectively sealed the game before Ashfaq’s 53-ball stay at the crease was ended by Vivian Kingma. It was the second fifty in a row for the opening batsman who had scored 56 in the previous T20I.
Muhammad Usman was dismissed cheaply shortly after but wicketkeeper batsman Ghulam Shabber remained unbeaten with a fine 57 to guide the side home in the final over.
