SHARJAH // The UAE’s cricketers took a sizeable leap towards completing their part of an equation that could see them playing at the 2015 World Cup after thrashing Namibia on Friday.
Shadeep Silva, who is a storekeeper for a catering company by day, kept the part-timers of the national team on course for their ultimate goal with the seminal spell of bowling.
The spin-bowler from Sri Lanka took three for 11 from eight overs as the Namibians capitulated to a pitiful 39 all out.
The landslide 158-run win meant the UAE moved to third place in the qualifying league, and advanced their overall run-rate significantly.
If they can win in similarly convincing fashion against the same opposition on Sunday, they will move into the second automatic qualifying place for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
If that did happen, only Afghanistan, who play two matches against Kenya at the same venue next week, would then be able to stop the national team from advancing.
“I just stuck to the basics,” Silva said. “For the past one-and-a-half years I have bowled the first over in 50-over matches, and I try to bowl wicket to wicket and look for lbws.
“We really wanted to win this match as it was so important for us as we try to qualify for the World Cup. Now [Sunday’s] game against Namibia is just the same and we need to do well.”
The first match of the UAE’s crucial double-header against the African side was literally and metaphorically men against boys.
The home team have two players in their 40s and their youngest is about to turn 25.
By contrast, circumstances have dictated that Namibia have brought such an inexperienced side here for this series that it included three 17 year olds.
The vast gulf in cricketing nous was all too apparent.
Neither side found conditions easier, but the elder statesmen from the home side were wise enough to find a way to cope.
By contrast, the raw touring side, who are missing a variety of senior players to work commitments and injuries, crumbled to the lowest score yet recorded in World Cricket League.
“It is quite tough because we are missing a few of the bigger lads, like Craig Williams and Sarel Burger,” said Raymond van Schoor, the Namibia captain. “But I don’t think there is any excuse for the cricket we are playing at the moment.
“We are putting all the hard work in at nets and preparing well, but we obviously need to start pulling up our socks.”
The UAE were indebted to two players of contrasting pedigree as they eventually scraped together 197 all out with the bat.
Shaiman Anwar has been the premier batsman in the national team for some time now.
His innings of 54 opening the batting was his seventh score of 50 or better in his past 11 innings for the UAE, and knitted together the fragile top order.
Yet his salvo was less vital than the 43 Mohammed Shafiq accrued later on.
At 44 years old, Shafiq was playing his first 50 over international match – 24 years after making his debut in first-class cricket in his native Pakistan.
Those years of experience proved invaluable as he repaired the UAE innings by sharing in a 79-run alliance for the sixth wicket with Rohan Mustafa, a player who is 20 years younger than Shafiq.
“It was a wonderful partnership and it set up the match for us,” said Khurram Khan, the victorious UAE captain who also took three cheap wickets.
“I was thinking anything above 170 was going to be a good total and at one point it looked like it was going to be around 120, but they batted so well. In the end it was enough.”
pradley@thenational.ae
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
ICC T20 Rankings
1. India - 270 ranking points
2. England - 265 points
3. Pakistan - 261 points
4. South Africa - 253 points
5. Australia - 251 points
6. New Zealand - 250 points
7. West Indies - 240 points
8. Bangladesh - 233 points
9. Sri Lanka - 230 points
10. Afghanistan - 226 points
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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England XI for second Test
Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings, Ben Stokes, Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes (wk), Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Jack Leach, James Anderson
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
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Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
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Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
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UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
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Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
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Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
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Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
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Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
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MAIN CARD
Bantamweight 56.4kg
Abrorbek Madiminbekov v Mehdi El Jamari
Super heavyweight 94 kg
Adnan Mohammad v Mohammed Ajaraam
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Zakaria Eljamari v Faridoon Alik Zai
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Mahmood Amin v Taha Marrouni
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Light heavyweight 81.4kg
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Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
RESULTS
5pm: Watha Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Dalil De Carrere, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Pharitz Al Denari, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mahmood Hussain
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Oss, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
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Winner: AF Almajhaz, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: AF Lewaa, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
