UAE emerge the best among Fast Track countries

The UAE cricket team put up a spirited display on the final day of the Asian Cricket Council's Fast Track Countries cricket tournament to shock Hong Kong and emerge the champions.

According to information from Hong Kong, UAE played to an excellent plan and registered a five-wicket win.

The UAE had to record an outright win to emerge champions while a draw would enable Hong Kong win the championship as they enjoy a better points tally.

"It was nothing but team work. Everyone played hard on the final day to ensure our team's victory," Mohammad Tauqir, skipper of the UAE team, told Gulf News from Hong Kong.

UAE lived up to the challenge to bowl out Hong Kong for a small total after conceding a 48-run first innings lead.

Hong Kong, who were reduced to 105 for four in the second innings at the end of the second day, were dismissed for 173.

Javed Esmail produced a deadly spell of four for 24 and was well-supported by Syed Maqsood, who bagged three for 44.

Maqsood, who had sparkled on the second day with a century to pull UAE out of trouble, once again shone with the bat with an unbeaten 34. His match-winning performance fetched him the man-of-the-match award.

UAE wicketkeeper Mohammad Taskeen created a record with seven catches and a total of 10 victims for the match.

However, it was Asghar Ali who hogged the limelight with a fine 80 off 122 balls. Interestingly, both Asghar and Maqsood play for Consolidated Shipping Services team in domestic cricket.

"After bundling Hong Kong out for 173 runs in the second innings, we needed to score 222 runs in 80 overs. Thanks to an excellent 80 from Asghar we reached the target in just 53.1 overs," revealed Tauqir, who works for Barclays Bank.

UAE openers Asghar Ali and Mohammad Nadeem set the tempo with a 109-run partnership in just 32.1 overs.

Nadeem, who looked set for a half century, got run out while next man Fahad Usman fell leg before to Haider for 18.

Ali, too, departed at the score on 147 but next man Javed Esmail hit a patient 36 to see the UAE past the 200-run mark.

Though UAE lost Esmail and Ali Asad in quick succession, Maqsood and Zia steered the team to the target.

"This victory has further boosted our confidence for our series against the England A team," said Tauqir. Incidentally, UAE coach Abid Ali moulded the team into a winning unit despite the absence of three of its top players.

"We have once again proved that we are one of Asia's strongest teams," remarked Mazhar Khan, Emirates Cricket Board Administrator.

Scoreboard
Hong Kong first innings: 251 for 4 decl.
UAE first innings: 203 for 9 decl.

Hong Kong second innings:
Tim Smart c Taskeen b J. Esmail 65
Rahul Sharma c Taskeen b J. Esmail 0
Roy Lamsam c Taskeen b Ali Asad 4
Tabarak Dar lbw Rizwan Latif 31
Adam Gunthorpe c Taskeen b Maqsood 6
Irfan Ahmad b Ali Asad 23
Elyas Gul c Taskeen b Maqsood 2
Najeeb Amar c Taskeen b Maqsood 8|
Sher Lama c Taskeen b J. Esmail 15
Nadeem Ahmad b J. Esmail 5
Afzal Haider not out 0
Extras (lb4, b8, w2) 14
Total (all out in 67.1 overs ) 173
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-9, 3-73, 4-89, 5-133, 6-140, 7-148, 8-160, 9-164.
Bowling: Ali Asad 16-5-29-2, J. Esmail 8.1-2-24-4, Ahmad Nadeem 3-1-10-0, R. Latif 11-2-14-1, M. Tauqir 11-2-31-0, S. Maqsood 14-3-44-3, Samir Zia 4-1-9-0.

UAE second innings:
Asghar Ali c Lama b Nadeem 80
M. Nadeem run out 41
Fahad Usman lbw Haider 18
S. Maqsood not out 34
J. Esmail c Dar b Nadeem 36
Ali Asad c Dar b Gul 0
Samir Zia not out 4
Extras (b1, lb7, w1) 9
Total (for five in 53.1 overs) 222
Fall of wickets: 1-109, 2-147, 3-149, 4-205, 5-210.
Bowling: Haider 12-0-63-1, Lamsam 8-2-25-0, Irfan Ahmad 8-0-28-0, Lama 2-1-4-0, Nadeem Ahmad 21-2-51-2, Elyas Gul 8.1-2-32-1, Rahul Sharma 3-0-11-0.

Result: UAE won by five wickets.

Man of the match: Syed Maqsood