UAE tasted more success against Oman in the Cricket World Cup League 2 after a second extraordinary cameo by Basil Hameed in consecutive days.
On Saturday, the Kerala-born batsman hurried UAE to victory in the first game of the three-match series with a brutal late-overs assault worth 61 from just 33 balls.
A day later in Muscat, it was his lesser-regarded off-spin bowling which was even more devastating. Having been introduced as the sixth UAE bowler to be used, Hameed took 5-17 in 6.2 overs.
His impact saw the home capitulate from 160-4 to 195 all out in less than 12 overs.
UAE did face some struggles in the chase. But Hameed’s fellow Keralite CP Rizwan played a second match-winning hand in the space of four ODIs to guide the tourists to a four-wicket win.
Rizwan, who scored a century in a win over Ireland the last time UAE played ODI cricket, in January 2021, top scored with 76 not out against Oman.
He shared in partnerships worth 72 with Chirag Suri (43), and 50 with Vriitya Aravind (34). He was also at the wicket when Kashif Daud clipped Bilal Khan down to third man, as the win was secured with four and a half overs to spare.
The back-to-back wins in Muscat have been remarkable for a number of reasons, and have added to the general mood of optimism around UAE cricket at present.
This series has followed on swiftly from the success of the country’s age-group cricketers, who beat West Indies and Ireland on their way to claiming the plate at the Under 19 World Cup in the Caribbean.
The senior time have slipped straight back into form, despite not playing World Cup League cricket in two years – and in spite of the fact they are up against the top side in the competition.
Oman still lead the table, having now played 22 matches. UAE, by contrast, have played just nine. From those games, they have won five, with three losses, and one match washed out.
Ahmed Raza’s side have a busy schedule ahead of them as they look to make up for series which were postponed because of Covid.
UAE have back-to-back tri-series in the WCL2 on home soil next month. First, they face Oman and Namibia, before taking on Nepal and Papua New Guinea in the second half of March.
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Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
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Checks continue
A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.
Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.
