UAE were brought crashing back to reality after losing to Oman in the Cricket World Cup League 2 at the ICC Academy in Dubai.
In their first engagement since sealing qualification for the T20 World Cup in fine style in Muscat last week, they lost out by 12 runs in the first one-day international.
The national team appeared well set after they restricted Oman to 225 for seven from their 50 overs.
But they fell short in the face of probing pace bowling from Bilal Khan, who took five wickets, and Kaleemullah, who went for just 17 from his 10 overs, while picking up two wickets.
The margin of defeat was only as narrow as it was thanks to a 41-run stand for the last wicket between captain Ahmed Raza and No 11 batter Zahoor Khan.
“This is how cricket is – it’s a great leveller,” Raza said. “We were flying high, but we did have an honest chat before this series in which we pointed out we haven’t won the World Cup, and we haven’t done anything in 50-over cricket.
“We only have 25 [Cricket World Cup League 2] games to get ourselves into the World Cup Qualifiers. We don’t want to get behind the eight ball in that.”
Raza was disappointed by the home batting line up’s failure to chase a target that appeared eminently gettable on a docile wicket.
“I think it was down to a lack of intent,” he said. “It is alright to strike at 60 [per hundred balls] but then you can’t get out. You have to take the team home.
“One big thing that we have spoken a lot about in the past is that losing wickets in clusters is a crime. It allows your opponent to come back into the game.
“When you have a required run-rate of 4.5, it shouldn’t be going out to seven or eight at any stage, on a very, very good cricket wicket.”
For Oman, the win avenged two defeats suffered on home soil against the same opposition last month. The have also had to come to terms with missing out on reaching the T20 World Cup.
They face Namibia in the next game of the tri-series on Sunday, looking to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Whether they will have the services of their captain, Zeeshan Maqsood, for that game is doubtful.
Maqsood sustained a groin injury while batting against UAE and hobbled through much of his side’s fielding effort.
Injury notwithstanding, Maqsood was delighted with the way his side bounced back from their recent disappointments.
“We didn’t play good cricket at that time,” Maqsood said of his side’s failure to make it through the T20 World Cup Qualifier.
“We have many more matches to play and we have to perform better to win, because UAE and Namibia have good players and they are not going to give you easy wins.
“Today’s game is a big booster for us. In the last few weeks we didn’t perform well, but cricket doesn’t end. We have to look forward, play well and perform for the team and for the country.”
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT
Valencia 3
Kevin Gameiro 21', 51'
Ferran Torres 67'
Atlanta 4
Josip Llicic 3' (P), 43' (P), 71', 82'
Company%20profile
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
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%3Cp%3EDirectors%3A%20Joaquim%20Dos%20Santos%2C%20Kemp%20Powers%2C%20Justin%20K.%20Thompson%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Shameik%20Moore%2C%20Hailee%20Steinfeld%2C%20Oscar%20Isaac%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEric%20Barbier%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYoussef%20Hajdi%2C%20Nadia%20Benzakour%2C%20Yasser%20Drief%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
