The UAE’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Twenty20 are all but over after they were comprehensively beaten by Kenya, on Wednesday.
The UAE went into the must-win game in confident mood having beaten Canada on Tuesday. Instead they suffered a 42-run defeat as the team struggled in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Chasing 148, the UAE were all out for 105 as Shaiman Anwar top scored with 25.
While the victory put Kenya joint-top of Group B with seven points, the UAE are fifth after four defeats in five games.
They will play their final group against Oman on Friday, while Netherlands, Scotland (four points each) and Oman (six), who have played a game less than the UAE, will battle for the remaining two spots after Afghanistan and Kenya booked their place in the play-offs.
Opting to bat first, Kenya recovered from two early wickets as Irfan Karim (1) and Nehemiah Odhiambo (9) both fell to fast-bowler Mohammad Naveed. But opener Narendra Kalyan (42) and Collins Obuya (37) steadied the innings.
The pair frustrated the UAE with a 34-run stand but Umair Ali broke that partnership as Kalyan could only find Abdul Shakoor following the all-rounder’s delivery.
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The UAE failed to build on that breakthrough as Obuya and Rakep Patel found the singles and boundaries to pile on more runs.
It was a frustrating period for the UAE, who struggled for the next five overs. They had to wait until the 17th over to break the 48-run partnership as Ali got his second wicket of the day by removing Obuya.
With the score 118-4, Patel (50) upped the tempo striking a boundary and a six before he was run out as Kenya posted 147-5.
With a competitive target, the UAE got off to the worst possible start as Mohammad Shahzad was out for a duck by Elijiah Otieno.
Big wins for Oman, Scotland & UAE leave Group B wide open, who will make up the top 4?? http://t.co/ePTw43JSEE #wt20q pic.twitter.com/0lQDO8NfMz
— ICC (@ICC) July 14, 2015
His wicket was a massive blow for the UAE, after the all-rounder struck a superb half-century against Canada on Tuesday.
It wasn’t long before they were two down. Rohan Mustafa only managing six as he was caught by Shem Ngoche.
At 17-2, Abul Shakoor and Faizan Asif added some valuable runs by putting on 27. But they failed to build on that stand with both falling to Kalyan in successive balls.
With the run-rate increasing, Shaiman Anwar struck four fours and a six in his 13 deliveries but could not build on that number due to Kalyan’s superb delivery.
As Swapnil Patil (6) soon followed at 77-6, Kenya gained momentum and apart from Mohammad Tauqir’s 13, the rest of the tail-enders failed to reach double figures as they were all out without using their full 20 overs.
