UAE captain confident they can bat all day today

Khurram Khan's objective is stay at the crease after they completed first full day of cricket following two days broken up by the weather.

Khurram Khan, in action here against Afghanistan, is leading the national side against the Netherlands.

Khurram Khan, the UAE captain, intends to use today's final day of in the ICC Intercontinental Cup as batting practice after the Netherlands, aided by a well-struck century from Shahbaz Bashir, posted 308 in a match seemingly headed for a draw.

The UAE were 74 for two when stumps were drawn after they managed a full day's play for the first time in the match following a truncated opening day and second lost to inclement weather.

"Our objective would be to bat for the remainder of this match and to take a first inning lead now that the game seems to be heading for draw, to be honest," said Khurram, who was not out on 19 and batting with Shaiman Anwar (20).

The day however belonged to Bashir, who stroked 102 and picked up the wicket of Arfan Haider (19), the first UAE wicket to fall with the score on 26.

Bashir's 157-ball knock contained a dozen fours and with Eric Szwarrczynski he put on 107 for the fourth wicket. The latter fell for 44 to Ahmed Raza and Tom de Grooth (five) was run out to leave the Netherlands 248 for five at lunch.

The medium pacer Amjad Javed grabbed four wickets and fellow seamer Manjula Guruge the other in the post lunch session to dismiss the Netherlands to 308.

Javed took three wickets for three runs from six overs after lunch and later ended a last wicket partnership of 41 between Tom Heggelman (23 not out) and Sebastian Braat (23).

"I think we did well to get them out for 308 on a good batting wicket," Khurram said.

"They batted well in the first session. Shahbaz batted beautifully but once we got the break our bowlers, particularly Amjad, bowled really well. We also have depth in batting and hopefully can bat the entire final day, provided it doesn't rain."