ABU DHABI // Rohan Mustafa scored a brilliant hundred on Tuesday, and if that was not enough, he took five wickets as the UAE thrashed Papua New Guinea by 103 runs in an one-off one-day international at Abu Dhabi.
It was Mustafa’s day from the get-go as the captain won the toss and opted to bat first at Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Opening the innings, the left-hander struck seven fours and a six and put on a 101-run partnership for the first wicket with Mohammed Qasim (33), setting the foundation for his team’s big victory.
Mustafa, 28, scored a career-best 109 and received ample support from Rameez Shahzad (37) as the home team posted 251-9 in their 50 overs.
In reply, PNG got off to a solid start as openers Tony Ura (40) and Vani Morea (36) put together 76 runs in 14.2 overs. But it went downhill for the tourists once Mustafa brought himself into the attack.
The Pakistan-born off-spinner took 5-25 — also his career-best figures — as PNG collapsed to 148 all out. Only Mahuru Dai put up a fight with a stodgy knock of 28 off 44 deliveries. By then, however, the writing was on the wall.
Before this, the two sides faced off in two ODIs in the World Cricket League, splitting the series 1-1.
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