The UAE recorded their second emphatic victory in the Asia Cup Under-15 cricket tournament when they defeated Maldives by 209 runs at the Sharjah Stadium yesterday.
Batting first the UAE posted a convincing 287 for five off 40 overs and then bundled out the Maldives for just 78 runs in 30.2 overs.
In their opening match of the tournament on Saturday the UAE had recorded a 151-run victory over Hong Kong.
It was a smooth start for the UAE after winning the toss. Openers Sharan Kumar and Farhan Siddiqui picked the gaps elegantly. Neither the medium pacers nor the spinners could disturb the batsmen and they moved from strength to strength with every over.
The pair put on 146 runs in just 24.4 overs before Sharan was dismissed by Iyujaz Hafiz for 76 (77balls, 7 fours,1 six). Skipper Ramveer Rai lasted only four balls before being run out for four.
Siddiqui too fell with the scored on 156. His knock of 64 came off 65 balls and featured four hits to the fence. Shehan Dharmasena too lasted only eight balls as four UAE wickets fell within the space of 12 runs.
Three-down batsman Owais Hameed forged a 64 partnership with Qasim Zubair that stemmed the slide. With the total on 222 Zubair was bowled by Mahafooz for 35.
Mohammed Fawad, who blasted an unbeaten 51 off 22 balls against Hong Kong, arrived at the crease and continued from where he had left off in the last match.
He proceeded to hit a breezy 52 off just 19 balls with four sixes and four boundaries, to add 65 runs with Owais (34 not out) and help the UAE take their total to 287 for 5 in 40 overs.
Maldives made a bad start. Opener Mahafooz fell leg-before playing across to a straight one from Fawad while one-drop Ismail slashed a short ball straight into the hands of Shehan at deep point.
Hamdhoon was the third to depart, driving uppishly into the hands of cover-fielder Owais off Zubair.
Three down for 19, Tyujaz Hafiz and Ahamed Umar steadied the innings and took the score to 30 before the lanky Sufiyan struck with the third ball of his first over forcing Hafiz to spoon an easy catch to Ramveer.
To make matters worse, Umar, racing for a third run failed to beat a throw from Fawad at deep mid wicket and was brilliantly run out by wicketkeeper Siddiqui.
Pranav tied down the rest of the batsmen with his leg spin and had Hasan Sabir caught and bowled while Sufiyan, who bowled an excellent length, stuck twice.
He clean bowled Husham and Saudhaan in the same over and Rai chipped in with two wickets as the Maldives innings folded up for 78 in just 30.2 overs. Except for Shafraz (27) none of the Maldive batsmen reached double figures.
Summarised scores:UAE 287 for 5 in 40 overs. (Sharan Kumar 76, Farhan Siddiqui 64, Owais Hameed 34 n.o. Qasim Zubair 35, Syed Mohammed Fawad 52 n.o. Iyujaz Hafiz 2 for 52) Maldives 78 all out in 30.2 overs. (Shafrazz 27, Syed Mohammed Fawad 2 for 14,Sufiyan 3 for 17, Ramveer Rai 2 for 7)Man of the match: Sharan Kumar
Gulf News 2002
