Kashif Daud and Basil Hameed shared the third-highest seventh wicket stand in the 4,362-match history of one-day internationals to earn UAE a stunning comeback win against Namibia.
The national team won by three wickets in the Cricket World Cup League 2 encounter at ICC Academy, thanks largely to the remarkable 148-run alliance between Daud and Hameed.
The home side had only been chasing 207 to beat an opposition who they will also be pitted against at the group stage of the T20 World Cup later this year.
That looked to be unrealistic after JJ Smit, who ended with four for 36, had helped reduce the hosts to 53 for six in the 20th over of the chase.
That brought together Daud, who had, hours earlier, sent down a maiden with the first over of the match, and Hameed. They were not parted until the score was 201, and victory was all but sealed.
Daud top scored with 76 not out, with Hameed making 62. It was the second time in the space of three matches that Daud has been heroic with the bat in a run-chase, after he dragged his side to a tie against Oman in the same competition last month.
“I am always there for my team whenever they require me,” Daud said.
“This was the situation that I want. I feel like, under pressure I play better. It happened in Oman, but I couldn’t win the match unfortunately.
“Today I didn’t want to do like that. I wanted to play till the end and I knew if I was there at the end, I will finish the game.”
Now aged 36, Daud only recently turned professional, after ending his job as a coach in Sharjah to focus full time on playing for UAE.
“I wanted to concentrate on my cricket, because I feel like I have some cricket left in me,” he said.
His side are grateful to have him, with captain Ahmed Raza suggesting he and Hameed had “got us out of jail” against a potent Namibia bowling attack.
“They are a very good bowling side and a very balanced team,” added Daud, who hopes to have recovered from cramp in time to take his place in the line up when UAE face Oman in the next match of the tri-series on Wednesday.
“If you see off David Wiese, another will come. If you see off the next one, another will come. That is big thing: you cannot relax.
“They kept changing the bowling. Two overs for Wiese, then JJ Smit would come on. I just kept telling myself not to relax, because they could get my wicket any time.
“I was thankful for having Basil with me. He plays good shots and we both can run very well between the wickets. We were confident that if we were there, we could finish the game.”
