SHARJAH // The UAE’s cricketers took a sizeable leap towards completing their part of an equation that could see them playing at the 2015 World Cup after thrashing Namibia on Friday.
Shadeep Silva, who is a storekeeper for a catering company by day, kept the part-timers of the national team on course for their ultimate goal with the seminal spell of bowling.
The spin-bowler from Sri Lanka took three for 11 from eight overs as the Namibians capitulated to a pitiful 39 all out.
The landslide 158-run win meant the UAE moved to third place in the qualifying league, and advanced their overall run-rate significantly.
If they can win in similarly convincing fashion against the same opposition on Sunday, they will move into the second automatic qualifying place for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
If that did happen, only Afghanistan, who play two matches against Kenya at the same venue next week, would then be able to stop the national team from advancing.
“I just stuck to the basics,” Silva said. “For the past one-and-a-half years I have bowled the first over in 50-over matches, and I try to bowl wicket to wicket and look for lbws.
“We really wanted to win this match as it was so important for us as we try to qualify for the World Cup. Now [Sunday’s] game against Namibia is just the same and we need to do well.”
The first match of the UAE’s crucial double-header against the African side was literally and metaphorically men against boys.
The home team have two players in their 40s and their youngest is about to turn 25.
By contrast, circumstances have dictated that Namibia have brought such an inexperienced side here for this series that it included three 17 year olds.
The vast gulf in cricketing nous was all too apparent.
Neither side found conditions easier, but the elder statesmen from the home side were wise enough to find a way to cope.
By contrast, the raw touring side, who are missing a variety of senior players to work commitments and injuries, crumbled to the lowest score yet recorded in World Cricket League.
“It is quite tough because we are missing a few of the bigger lads, like Craig Williams and Sarel Burger,” said Raymond van Schoor, the Namibia captain. “But I don’t think there is any excuse for the cricket we are playing at the moment.
“We are putting all the hard work in at nets and preparing well, but we obviously need to start pulling up our socks.”
The UAE were indebted to two players of contrasting pedigree as they eventually scraped together 197 all out with the bat.
Shaiman Anwar has been the premier batsman in the national team for some time now.
His innings of 54 opening the batting was his seventh score of 50 or better in his past 11 innings for the UAE, and knitted together the fragile top order.
Yet his salvo was less vital than the 43 Mohammed Shafiq accrued later on.
At 44 years old, Shafiq was playing his first 50 over international match – 24 years after making his debut in first-class cricket in his native Pakistan.
Those years of experience proved invaluable as he repaired the UAE innings by sharing in a 79-run alliance for the sixth wicket with Rohan Mustafa, a player who is 20 years younger than Shafiq.
“It was a wonderful partnership and it set up the match for us,” said Khurram Khan, the victorious UAE captain who also took three cheap wickets.
“I was thinking anything above 170 was going to be a good total and at one point it looked like it was going to be around 120, but they batted so well. In the end it was enough.”
pradley@thenational.ae
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
The bio
Academics: Phd in strategic management in University of Wales
Number one caps: His best-seller caps are in shades of grey, blue, black and yellow
Reading: Is immersed in books on colours to understand more about the usage of different shades
Sport: Started playing polo two years ago. Helps him relax, plus he enjoys the speed and focus
Cars: Loves exotic cars and currently drives a Bentley Bentayga
Holiday: Favourite travel destinations are London and St Tropez
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Sunday's Super Four matches
Dubai, 3.30pm
India v Pakistan
Abu Dhabi, 3.30pm
Bangladesh v Afghanistan
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
