UAE Under-19s shock England in tri-series

Dubai: The UAE’s Under-19s team showed they can compete with the top teams with a stunning three-wicket win over England in the ongoing tri-nation series at Dubai’s Fair Grounds venue.

England posted an impressive 250 for 9 in 50 overs, but the UAE chased down the target and won with three balls to spare. Moaaz Ayub was the star of the show for the hosts, as he took 4-22 with the ball before adding a 34-ball 40 with the bat.

England won the toss and lost opener Dominic Sibley to Ayub for six. Ryan Higgs top scored with 75.

UAE got off to a good start in reply, with openers Chirag Suri and Zamin Jaleel putting on 53. Jaleel was the first to go, bowled by Ed Barnard for 17, while Suri went on to score 36.

One-drop Shorye Chopra hit 28 and Dan D’Souza cracked 29, which was followed by a match-winning partnership of 98 for the fifth wicket between skipper Rohit Singh (70) and Ayub.

Though both players fell when UAE were 14 runs short of victory, Sajid Khan and Sharuk Ahmad steered them home.

The UAE couldn’t continue their run in the next match against the formidable Pakistan Under-19 team, losing by 73 runs. Pakistan opener Sami Aslam hit a century to maintain his team’s perfect form of five wins from five in the tournament.

Aslam hit 129 and put on vital stands of 58 and 87 for the third and fourth wickets with Hasan Raza and Hussain Talat respectively, to help his team post 261 for 8 from their 50 overs.

UAE were bowled out for 188 with D’Souza top scoring on 56.

Pakistan now meet England in the final of the tournament on December 22 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.