UAE took a winning 3-0 lead in the four-match T20 series against Netherlands on Tuesday following a 14-run win.
Batting first at Sportpark Westvliet, The Hague, UAE were powered by another substantial knock by opener Ashfaq Ahmed who hit 56 from 41 balls to lay the foundation of a competitive total of 152-8.
Almost the entire top and middle order reached double figures but only Ashfaq made it count. The opener hit a fifty in the opening T20 and followed that up with 25 in the second.
For the Dutch, Sebastiaan Braat was the best bowler with figures of 3-26 from his four overs, which included the scalp of Ashfaq. Opening seamer Hidde Overdijk took 2-23 while spinner Pieter Seelaar had another fruitful outing, picking up 2-21.
In reply, UAE bowlers stayed on top throughout the 20 overs. Opener Max O’Dowd hit his second fifty from three games but his 65 from 54 balls was not enough as the team could only reach 138-9.
Seamer Qadeer Ahmed gave nothing away, finishing with 2-18 from his four overs while former skipper Rohan Mustafa took 3-30 with his off-spin.
UAE had won the first T20 by 13 runs and the second by five wickets. The fourth and final match of the series will played at The Hague on Thursday.
