CP Rizwan and Mohammed Usman both scored centuries as the UAE claimed one of their finest ever wins, beating Ireland in the first one-day international in Abu Dhabi.
The six-wicket win was just the second time the UAE have beaten a Test-playing nation in ODI cricket, after their win over Zimbabwe in 2018.
It was also their first win in seven attempts against Ireland in ODIs. In truth, they have rarely got close.
The last time the sides met, in Harare two-and-a-half-years ago, Ireland won by a massive 226 runs.
Rizwan and Usman’s centuries were their first in ODIs. Their alliance, worth 184, was the highest four-wicket stand against Ireland, beat Eoin Morgan and Tom Banton’s effort in the last game they played last summer
The portents had not been good on the morning of the game, as the UAE made their return to competitive cricket for the first time in nearly 11 months.
Ahead of the toss, it was announced that two of the players in the 17-man squad in Abu Dhabi had tested positive for coronavirus.
The Emirates Cricket Board confirmed that vice-captain Chirag Suri and newcomer Aryan Lakra had tested positive for Covid 19.
“Both players are currently in isolation, are being monitored and are in good health,” the ECB said in statement.
“All areas were immediately and thoroughly sanitised as per existing protocols with no further positive tests returned.”
The match went ahead as scheduled, with the home side handing ODI debuts to 17-year-old batsman Alishan Sharafu and Kashif Daud, the 34-year-old allrounder.
Daud, a coach from Sharjah, started his international career in fine fashion, picking up the prize wicket of Kevin O’Brien.
That was rare cheer for the hosts, though, as Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie took the Irish to 141 for one by the end of the 28th over.
Rohan Mustafa pegged the Irish back with two quick wickets, but the tourists still reached 269-5.
Stirling ended unbeaten on 131. It was his second century in successive innings, as he had piloted Ireland’s win over world champions England the last time out.
UAE were struggling in reply, as the lurched to 51-3, only for a record-breaking stand from Rizwan and Usman to take them to victory.
The sides will meet again in the second of four ODIs, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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Hurricanes 31-31 Lions
Wellington Hurricanes:
Tries: Gibbins, Laumape, Goosen, Fifita tries, Barrett
Conversions: Barrett (4)
Penalties: Barrett
British & Irish Lions:
Tries: Seymour (2), North
Conversions: Biggar (2)
Penalties: Biggar (4)
TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
