Accurate bowling from UAE opening bowlers Mohammad Naveed and Manjula Guruge took the Gulf team to their maiden win in the ICC World Cricket League Championship, against Kenya.
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Naveed (4 for 36) and Guruge (3 for 29) delivered the deadly blow their captain Mohammad Tauqir would have hoped for after he opted to field first at The Rose Bowl in Southampton, as UAE bowl Kenya out for 171 in 40.5 overs.
Kenya’s bowlers made early strikes in their bid to limit the UAE, but the Emiratis hit their target comfortably, getting to 173 for 5 in 41.4 overs.
Nehemiah Odhiambo was Kenya’s stand out performer, making 62 with the bat and taking figures of 2 for 28. But his efforts were in vain for what was eventually an easy win for UAE.
Guruge who drew first blood at the start of the game when he dismissed Morris Ouma and Irfan Karim in quick succession. Naveed then trapped Narendra Kalyan leg before. Collins Obuya showed some solidity with 36 off 47 balls before Amjad Javed had him caught to leave Kenya 70 for 5.
@EmiratesCricket have won the toss & will bowl first vs @CricketKenya pic.twitter.com/qGbe6hmCMX
— EICA (@EICAcademy) June 25, 2015
Nehemiah and Nelson Odhiambo attempted to resurrect the innings but their 65-run stand was ended by Taqir.
Nehemiah was eventually dismissed when Naveed bowled him for his third scalp, with Ngoche falling to the same bowler to wrap up the Kenya innings.
UAE lost three early wickets to slip to a worrying 42 for 3 in the 11th over. But Amjad Ali, who top-scored with 49 off 88 balls, stood his ground with Swapnil Patil (38), to set up the team’s successful chase.
Both fell in quick succession but Shahzad (27 not out) and Javed (28 not out) denied Kenya any more wickets with an unbroken 54-run sixth-wicket stand.
The two sides meet on Saturday in the sixth match of the tournament at the same venue.
