The UAE began to apply the finishing touches to preparations for their final attempt at World Cup qualification as they comfortably beat Uganda yesterday.
The fixture was the first of two warm-up matches ahead of this month’s 10-team repechage tournament in New Zealand, which carries with it the final two berths for the 2015 event.
The national team enter the competition as top seeds, having just missed out on automatic qualification through the World Cricket League by only a point to Afghanistan.
On the evidence of the 73-run win over Uganda in Mount Maunganui, the Emirates have maintained the strong form they showed over the course of the league campaign.
Four UAE batsmen were adequately satisfied with their game that they were able to retire their innings, as the national team accrued 280 for eight from their 50 overs.
Salman Faris vacated the crease after making 47, while Khurram Khan, Rohan Mustafa and Swapnil Patil all did similar. Shaiman Anwar, the UAE’s most prolific batsman last year, led all scorers with 59 from 41 deliveries.
The bowling will be of greater concern for coach Aaqib Javed. Although the African side fell well short of chasing the runs, the UAE’s bowlers took just three wickets.
They will have a greater examination of their credentials in their final warm-up match against the Netherlands, who are the top seeds in the other pool in the qualifying event.
pradley@thenational.ae
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