UAE stroll past Kuwait but Oman set to stand in their way of final place

Mustafa and Suri hit half-centuries in 47-run win but surprise results in other Western Region T20 qualifying group means they are set to face favourites in semi-final

Sharjah, December, 08 2019: Rohan Mustafa of UAE in action against USA during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah . Satish Kumar/ For the National / Story by Paul Radley
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UAE completed a second easy win in successive days at the start of the Western Region T20 in Oman – yet have had their path to Asia Cup qualifying complicated by results in other matches.

The national team followed up their opening day demolition of Iran with a 47-run win over Kuwait in Al Amerat on Monday.

Victory all but guaranteed UAE top spot in their three-team group, with just Saudi Arabia left to play on Tuesday.

However, they are now almost certain to find Oman between them and a place in Thursday’s final – and thus a trip to the next phase of qualifying.

In a morning fixture at the Oman Cricket Academy, the host nation had appeared distracted as they were beaten by 34 runs, by a Qatar side who are six places below them in the world rankings.

Earlier in the day, the ICC had announced an Oman domestic cricketer had been banned for seven years for corruption related to the T20 World Cup Qualifier last year.

It is less likely that would have affected the side as much as the late arrival of their captain, Zeeshan Maqsood, though.

He had been absent for Oman’s first match on Sunday, as well as the build-up to the tournament, as he had been on compassionate leave in Pakistan.

In addition, Oman are without Aqib Ilyas, the in-form all-rounder who fractured a finger in training in the lead up to this tournament.

Despite their troubles, Oman were widely regarded as favourites for one of the two qualifying berths available from this competition, taking them to the next phase of the process in Malaysia in August.

At No 15, UAE are the top-ranked side in the event in Al Amerat, but Oman are just two places below, and have been in dominant form of late.

They are bound for the T20 World Cup in Australia last year, and are riding high at the top of the 50-over Cricket World Cup League Two, having won all four matches in Nepal earlier this month.

In addition, they beat UAE in that same competition last month – and well as in this format in the T20 World Cup Qualifier last October.

The loss to Qatar, though, means Oman will likely finish second in their group, and thus face UAE in all-important semi-final on Thursday.

Whatever is going on in the other group, though, UAE will be buoyed by their own form.

The win over Kuwait included half-centuries for both Rohan Mustafa and Chirag Suri, as the national team amassed  186-5 from their 20 overs.

The batting effort was also notable for the fact Alishan Sharafu, the 17-year-old schoolboy playing his debut series for UAE, hit his second ball in senior international cricket for six.

Zahoor Khan was then the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets, as Kuwait were bowled out for 139 in reply.