Dubai: Namibia's left-arm medium pacer Kola Burger wrecked the UAE's battling line-up with a deadly spell of 7 for 38 to bowl the hosts out for a paltry 79 on the first day of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Intercontinental Shield final at the ICC Global Cricket Academy Oval ground in the Dubai Sports City yesterday.
Namibia raced to a commanding position through a fine century from their skipper Craig Williams, who hit 116 off just 102 balls studded with 15 boundaries and four sixes
By the close, Namibia were 267 for 3 and are leading by 188 runs with seven wickets in hand.
The 29-year-old South African born Burger began his haul by clean bowling opener Amjad Ali as well as UAE skipper Khurram Khan for duck.
He also trapped opener Arshad Ali leg before for eight runs and dismissed Swapnil Patil and vice-captain Mohammad Tauqir for duck. He ended his spell by clean bowling last man Qasim Zubair too for a duck.
It was one of the deadliest spells that UAE batsmen ever faced in recent years and Burger got a standing ovation for clean bowling four batsmen, trapping two in front and having Amjad Javed caught behind.
Fighting knock
Amid the ruins only Naeemuddin Islam withstood the attack to hit a fighting knock of 38 runs with five boundaries.
The only other batsman to reach double figures was Shaiman Anwar, who got run out for 13. Namibia's opening bowler Louis Kalzinga too chipped in with two wickets to end UAE's innings in just 25.3 overs.
Williams, who won the toss, justified his decision of electing to bowl first. The highest partnership of the UAE's innings was the 37 runs put on by Islam and Anwar for the fifth wicket.
The UAE got an early wicket when Shoaib Sarwar ran out opener Raymond van Schoor for 4, but opener Ewald Steenkamp and Sarel Burger quickly settled down and put on 100 runs for the second wicket.
Steenkamp finally got out, caught behind by Swapnil Patil off Arshad Ali for 66. His knock off 72 balls contained 10 boundaries.
Racing to century
Williams, who joined Burger, further strengthened Namibia's position. With Burger playing second fiddle, Williams went for his shots and raced to his century.
At his score on 116, Sarwar produced the second run out of the day. Williams and Burger put on 161 runs for the third wicket in just 34 overs. Burger is unbeaten on 73 off 182 balls with eight boundaries.
Scores
UAE first innings: 79 in 25.3 overs (Naeemuddin Islam 38, Kola Burger 7 for 38, Louiz Klazinga 2 for 35) Namibia first innings: 267 for 3 in 61 overs (Ewald Steenkamp 66, Sarel Burger 73n.o, Craig Williams 116).
