Ahmed Raza rued a missed opportunity after the UAE passed up a chance for a first series win over a Test nation as they were soundly beaten by Ireland in the second one-day international in Abu Dhabi.
A sparkling individual performance by Simi Singh underpinned Ireland’s 112-run win over the national team at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
The off-spinner made his first half-century in ODI cricket to help the Irish rebuild after a tough start, as they eventually posted 228-6 from their 50 overs.
The home side then capitulated weakly in the face of his slow bowling, as he ended up with five for 10 from his 10 overs, which was the third most economical five-wicket haul in the format.
It was a miserable end to a series that has started so well for the hosts. Their opening-day win, by six wickets, 10 days earlier had been just the second time the UAE head beaten a Test nation in ODI cricket.
They were beset by a series of challenges thereafter. Four of their players tested positive for Covid-19, leading to the next match to be suspended four times.
While they were confined to their hotel rooms for eight days, Ireland had to hastily arrange a practice match against Afghanistan, who they face in three more ODIs in Abu Dhabi, starting on Thursday.
The problems were quickly forgotten, though, when the UAE had their visitors 10 for three early on, with Paul Stirling, Kevin O’Brien and Andy Balbirnie all falling cheaply.
The Irish repaired the damage via a 91-run partnership by Singh and Curtis Campher, who ended as the player of the match and the player of the series respectively.
The UAE crumbled against Singh’s spin, and Raza, the UAE captain, bemoaned a lack of positivity from his side’s batsmen.
“It is a hard one to swallow, but we are not looking to give any excuses – that is not the culture we want in our dressing room,” Raza said.
“We have to take it on the chin, take whatever positives we can from the whole series, and work on the things we need to.
“Intent was lacking [with the bat]. Not to take anything away from Simi, who bowled an exceptional spell, but if we had shown some intent, things could have been a little different.
“Someone had to take that positive option and take ownership of it. It comes down to intent, and that is something we can talk about in our dressing room.
“I see this as an opportunity getting lost, and that is not easy to take.”
The game hinged on Singh’s spell. Only India’s Sunil Joshi and Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan have take nmiserly five-wicket hauls in the history of ODI cricket.
“It was just one of those days where things click for you,” Singh said. “The confidence from the batting comes into the bowling and the plan was pretty simple: bowl as many dot balls as we can, and that was just what I was trying to do.
“Once you get a couple of wickets, you can build pressure and get into a rhythm. I found the right pace for that wicket, and it was just one of those days.”
Balbirnie, Ireland’s captain, said Singh’s effort had been “as good a performance as I’ve seen from an Irish player in an ODI,” and also reserved praise for Campher.
Campher top scored with 56, which was his third half-century in four innings so far in his international career having made two against England last summer.
“Curtis has been incredible since he came into our team in the England series in Southampton, with the ball and the bat,” Balbirnie said.
“He is just very consistent and we always know what we are going to get from him.
“Simi is a brilliant cricketer. Unfortunately, he missed out on the first ODI, but he is always knocking on the door, and whenever he does get his chance, he seems to take that.”
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
The%20specs
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RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Samau Xmnsor, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Ottoman, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Sharkh, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Yaraa, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Maaly Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Jinjal, Fabrice Veron, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Al Sail, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
Kalra's feat
- Becomes fifth batsman to score century in U19 final
- Becomes second Indian to score century in U19 final after Unmukt Chand in 2012
- Scored 122 in youth Test on tour of England
- Bought by Delhi Daredevils for base price of two million Indian rupees (Dh115,000) in 2018 IPL auction
England squad
Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes (vice-captain), Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
