Dubai: Emirates Group Cricket Team denied GMW Royal a spot in the final after day two of match six in the Danube Test Series.
The series is played under the patronage of Dubai Cricket Council.
GMW began on 73 for 4 in 25 overs with a mountain to climb if they were to pass Emirates’ first innings score. Batsmen Shahid Sadiq and Usman Mushtaq played sensibly as they were involved in a 136-run partnership. But it came to an end as an unexpected misunderstanding led to a run-out. Sadiq played the ball to the covers and set off for a quick run, only to realise that Mushtaq did not respond.
Emirates skipper Nigel Fernandes, who was at cover, took advantage and ran Sadiq out for 89.
The onus was then on Mushtaq to help salvage the innings, but he was left bamboozled by the experienced UAE all-rounder Arshad Ali and was bowled for 65.
Thereafter, Amjad Gul (37) and Nisar Abbas (22) tried their best, but Emirates had them under control, eventually bundling out their rivals for 279 in 68.3 overs.
Ali was expensive but took three wickets for 106, while Khan and Fernandes picked up two wickets each. Sagar Pawar won the man of the natch for his first-innings century.
The result meant that Yogi Group had a safe passage into the finals against Wings SRT to be played on Wednesday and Thursday at ICC Academy Oval 1.
