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Abu Dhabi: A battling 97-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Sameer Zia and Ahmad Raza saved the blushes for hosts UAE who were eventually bowled out for 228 by Ireland in their four-day ICC Intercontinental cricket match here yesterday.
The visiting defending champions ended the first day's play at the Zayed International Cricket Stadium on 46 for the loss of debutant Paul Stirling's wicket.
The UAE were 121 for six before Zia's 56 and his 97-run stand with Raza (46) lifted the home side to a decent score of 228 in 72 overs.
Electing to bat first, UAE lost opener Gayan Silva for four in the very first over and from then on were under pressure. Silva fell lbw to David Langford-Smith after a streaky second-ball boundary while skipper Trent Johnston, who shared the new ball, also struck a little later. Amjad Ali struck three boundaries but that was all he could do as Johnson dismissed him.
Repair work
Naeemuddin and Rashid Ali did some repair work but Rashid fell at 70 to Langford-Smith and Johnston scalped rival skipper Saqib Ali to give Ireland a strong grip over proceedings.
Naeemuddin, who waged a lone battle, did not seem to take David Sheperd's Nelson's jig seriously and fell one short of his 50 when the UAE score was 111. His 124-ball knock contained seven fours.
Soon Nigel Fernandes also fell and that brought Ahmad Raza to partner Sameer Zia. Zia slammed nine fours in his 80-ball innings while Raza also hit six boundaries.
Alex Cusack then came to Ireland's rescue when he bowled Zia for 56 to end a resolute partnership. Shoaib Sarwar fell off the very next ball, also bowled by Cusack and from 218 for 6, UAE were 219 for 9 with Zahid Shah run out soon after.
Raza was last man out for 46 as Langford-Smith, Johnston and Cusack shared the spoils with two wickets apiece.
Fahad Alhashmi, who bowled a brilliant spell against Lashings here a fortnight ago, spoiled Stirling's debut to make it eight for one. But William Porterfield (16 n.o) and Eoin Morgan, who slammed an unbeaten 209 last February at this very ground, on 21 n.o, will carry forward Ireland's first innings build-up.
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