Batsmen disappoint as UAE lose by 34 runs to Ireland in Abu Dhabi

Denzil Pinto 22:51 14/02/2016
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  • Veteran Shaiman Anwar top-scored for the UAE with a knock of 24.

    Having won the toss at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium Sunday, captain Amjad Javed put the tourists in to bat first.

    It seemed to be the right call by the 35-year-old as the Irish were reduced to 19-4 inside five overs with Javed  and Qadeer Ahmed taking early wickets.

    But the O’Brien brothers – Kevin (23) and Niall (38) – led the recovery by putting on a 55-run partnership, before the latter became Rohan Mustafa’s only victim.

    At 74-5, Ireland were struggling with the bat and while the UAE were claiming wickets, the hosts conceded 27 runs in their last 12 balls as Ireland reached 134-8, despite Javed’s figures of 3-41.

    Chasing, the UAE never gained any momentum and their attempts of building partnerships were dashed several times with Ireland taking wickets at crucial moments.

    Veteran Shaiman Anwar top-scored with 24 as the UAE had no answer to Ireland’s seamers.

    The tourists completed the rout with Max Sorensen dismissing pacer Mohammad Naveed in the 19th over. UAE were all out for 100.

    It was the third loss in four limited-over games for the hosts and with the first Asia Cup qualifier coming up against Afghanistan on Friday in Bangladesh, coach Javed rued the opportunity that they could not build up on their good start to the game.

    “We played good cricket in the first 18 overs, but then had two bad overs,” said Javed.

    “It was a really good chance to beat Ireland and they crossed 100 in the 18th over but we just didn’t capitalise and we missed what was a very good opportunity to win.”

    Javed also saw his batsmen struggle with the bat with only four reaching double figures.

    Prior to Sunday’s loss, only captain Javed, Anwar and Muhammad Usman had scored half-centuries in their last three games.

    Javed’s cause hasn’t been helped with the retirements of former skippers Khurram Khan and Saqib Ali, and he feels their absence has had an impact on the team.

    “Yes, their retirements has affected the team,” he said. “If you take out two main players in a team it’s always going to be difficult.

    “Apart from Shaiman (Anwar), none of the batsmen have come out and performed. We need to find out what’s going wrong.

    “Some of them look like they still need some time and they can’t keep their nerves.”

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