DHAKA // The UAE booked a date with the elite of continental cricket after clinching the Asia Cup qualifying group in the most resounding fashion possible.
The national team arrived early at the National Cricket Stadium in Bangladesh’s capital, to see the final throes of Afghanistan’s thrashing of Hong Kong.
The size of the 66-run win for the Afghans meant they leapfrogged the UAE on run-rate at the top of the four-team pool.
As such, the national team’s players knew they faced a simple equation if they were to advance to play Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India later this week.
Beat Oman in the evening’s second match and they were through. Lose and they were on the flight back to Dubai, and back at their office desks at the earliest opportunity.
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Maybe their nerves were racing when they lost the toss, Oman put them in, and the ball started darting around prodigiously.
If that was the case, the players did not show it, as the UAE comprehensively dispatched their Gulf neighbours, who beat them to a place at next month’s World Twenty20 via the qualifying competition last year.
The UAE eventually reached a defendable total of 172 from their 20 overs, and they did ride their luck getting there.
Bilal Khan, Oman’s swing-bowler, returned the totally unjustified figures of none for 30 off three overs, even though he bowled masterfully with the new ball.
Somehow, UAE were 10 for no loss after the first over, even though Bilal had a good shout for LBW against Rohan Mustafa first ball, and saw his second sliced past the wicketkeeper for four.
Mohammed Kaleem, the other opener, played a fine hand as he posted his maiden half-century in any format for the UAE.
His effort might even have been bettered, though, by the late innings cameo played by Mohammed Usman. The elegant left-hander inverted his usual method as he embarked on an assault in the final overs which brought him 46 in 22 balls.
It was just the impetus his side required, and the bowlers was right on point straight away. Mohammed Naveed, who was comfortably the best bowler in the qualifying phase, was the spearhead again.
He got a wicket - bowled - in his first over, and ended with smart figures of two for 14 from his four overs, which included a maiden.
The UAE players celebrated the fact they will have 12 more days in Dhaka - pending permission from their employers, presumably - when a single-run final over from Mustafa set the seal on a 71-run win.
pradley@thenational.ae
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