Skipper Saqib delays inevitable for the UAE

Abu Dhabi: Skipper Saqib Ali waged a lone battle for the UAE as defending champions Ireland closed in on a massive victory in the ICC Intercontinental Cup cricket here at the Zayed International Cricket Stadium.

Riding on Nial O'Brien's 174 and an unbeaten 52 from Kyle McCallan, Ireland took a 246-run first innings lead. And by close of play on the third day, the UAE were left battling to avoid defeat on 186 for 7 with Saqib Ali unbeaten on 98.

Good display

The Irish superiority was never in doubt and the Phil Simmons-coached squad went about demolishing UAE's hopes in a professional manner. Resuming on 366 for 7, overnight centurion O'Brien and new man Kyle McCallan seemed to continue their good batting display.

Together they put on 77 runs for the eighth wicket and Ireland, who were 203 for six at one stage on Friday, were now 443 when O'Brien fell. O'Brien's knock, a workmanlike innings studded with 24 boundaries, helped establish Ireland's superiority and McCallan built on that with an unbeaten 52, putting on 27 runs for the final wicket with Langford Smith (15).

McCallan, who hit six fours in his half century, then came back with a lethal spell that broke the back of the UAE batting. Burdened with a deficit of 246 runs, opener Amjad Ali was dismissed by McCallan when the UAE score was 37 and one run later skipper Johnston had Naeemuddin out to start the slide.

Brief scores

UAE first innings:

228 all out in 72 overs

Ireland first innings:

474 all out in 134.3 overs

(Nial O'Brien 174, Kyle McCallan 52 n.o, Trent Johnston 69, Eoin Morgan 47, Ahmad Raza 2 for 64, Saqib Ali 3 for 84, Zahid Shah 2 for 126, Sameer Zia 2 for 87.)

UAE second Innings:

186 for 7 in 60 overs

(Saqib Ali 98 n.o, Kyle McCallan 3 for 65,Alex Cusack 2 for 10)