Dubai: Batsmen Swapnil Patil and Saqib Ali scored fighting half-centuries to extend the UAE’s Intercontinental Cup match against Ireland at Malahide, Dublin, to the final day before the tourists crashed to an innings and 26 runs defeat on Friday.
Ireland had posted a whopping 492 in the first innings through their former England batsman Ed Joyce, who cracked 231, and Paul Stirling’s knock of 146.
The UAE were bowled out for 213 in reply and were forced to follow on. In the second innings, Patil top scored with 63 while Saaqib, returning to the team after not being considered for the World Cup, hit 51. Together they put on a 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
The UAE’s batsmen, who are not familiar with playing four-day matches and also with English conditions, fought hard to try and avert an innings defeat.
Openers Amjad Ali (28) and Asif Iqbal (12) put on 40 before spinner George Dockrell dismissed them both. They then lost the valuable wicket of Khurram Khan for 10 runs to Paul Stirling.
Saqib and Patil then took the score to 165 before Patil was stumped by wicketkeeper Gary Wilson off Dockrell. Patil’s 63 came off 110 balls with ten boundaries.
Dockrell also removed Shaiman Anwar, who had cracked a half-century in the first innings, for a duck.
Fayyaz Ahmad gave good support to Saqib and they took the score to 188 before Tim Murtagh had Ahmad caught behind by Wilson for 21.
Saqib also fell with the score at 188 as his patient knock of 51 off 207 balls with five boundaries finally came to an end.
Next man Amjad Ali fought valiantly to score 36 off 55 balls with five boundaries. Manjula Guruge (18) and last man Mohammad Naveed saw the third day through.
Ireland needed just four deliveries on the final morning to complete victory as Naveed came down the pitch to hit Craig Young over the top but got caught by Dockrell for two. Ireland pocketed all 20 points from the match.
