UAE make 'similar mistakes too regularly' to concede ODI series in Zimbabwe

Coach Dougie Brown left frustrated as 131-run defeat means Tuesday's fourth and final match will be dead rubber

Sean Williams has been one of Zimbabwe's batting mainstays, and he scored a century against the UAE in Harare on Sunday. William West / AFP

Zimbabwe clinched the one-day international series against UAE after beating the national team by 131 runs at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

Sean Williams hit the third ODI century of his career as the home side amassed 307-4 from their 50 overs.

The tourists were bowled out for 176 with more than three overs still to face, as Ryan Burl picked up four wickets. It was a third successive loss for the UAE, with Tuesday’s final ODI still to play.

In the previous matches, the UAE had been sent in to bat and struggled against the new ball after the 9.30am start.

This time around, they won the toss and sent their hosts in, expecting to exert a similar challenge to that which they had faced previously.

Qadeer Ahmed did dismiss Regis Chakabva early, as part of a wicket maiden in the second over of the game.

But the national team passed up some vital chances thereafter, with Craig Ervine being given a life when Mohammed Boota missed a catch.

Zimbabwe rarely looked back thereafter. Ervine made a brisk half-century, Williams hit 109 not out in 84 balls, and Peter Moor, the home captain for this series, finished unbeaten on 58.

“We didn’t manage to hold our lines and lengths, and we seemed to be rattled by the missed catch,” UAE coach Dougie Brown said.

“We didn’t bowl well enough from that point in. It was a day where we were given opportunities, but for whatever reason, we didn’t manage to take them.

“There were two really simple opportunities. From that point on, we really lost our shape, and the dropped catches probably cost us the best part of 60 runs.”

In reply, the UAE effort was again undermined by a faltering start. After being 19-3 in the first match, then 12-3 in the second, this time around they crumbled to 15-3.

As such, they were never likely to threaten the target, even though Mohammed Usman, who made 49, and CP Rizwan, 47, did at least provide some resistance.

“Chasing 300 was always going to be a big ask, but again we lost three wickets in the powerplay,” Brown said.

“It has not been because the bowling has been unbelievable. We are just making similar mistakes too regularly, which is really frustrating.

“The batting is a concern at the moment. It had been helpful conditions for the Zimbabwe bowlers to bowl in, but today we had the best of the pitch to bat on.

“There are no excuses. We need to know what gives us a chance to get established at the crease. If we are continually defending away from our bodies, we are going to put ourselves under pressure when the ball is moving a bit.”