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Sharjah: Hosts UAE fell short by 64 runs after a spirited chase against Netherlands on the final day of the ICC Intercontinental Cup match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
"We have been losing matches by slender margin to strong teams and it is very heart-breaking. Two run outs at a crucial stage of this match upset our plans," a disappointed UAE skipper Saqib Ali told Gulf News.
Recently, UAE had lost by small margins to some of the star-studded English County teams in the Arch Trophy.
The Netherlands, made up of experienced first class cricketers, withstood the pressures of game to conquer the hosts, who even took a slender two- run lead in the first innings. Skipper Jeroen Smits refused to declare in the morning, wanting Bas Zuiderent to reach his 150. Arshad Ali clean bowled last man Mohammad Kashif with the second ball of the day to return with figures of four for 99 and an impressive match haul of nine for 142 runs. Zuiderent remained unconquered on 149.
Poor note
UAE began chasing 342 on a poor note. Netherlands opening bowler Edgar Schiferli trapped opener Amjad Ali leg before with the first ball of the innings. With the score on four, one-down batsman Indika Batuwitarachchi got run out. Schiferli struck again to dismiss the prolific scorer Arshad Ali for 25.
UAE's in-form batsman and skipper Saqib Ali took up the challenge.
Peter Borren struck two vital blows by dismissing Khurram Khan for 8 and Rashid Khan for 2.
Saqib Ali fell short of his half century by seven runs and UAE slipped to 89 for six.
Nizel Fernandez and former UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir then put 119 runs for the seventh wicket and steered the UAE past the 200-run mark.
With the score on 208, Fernandez was run out off a brilliant piece of fielding by Alexei Kervezee. His throw from the boundary found both the batsmen in one end. Fernandez's 56 came off 84 balls with seven fours.
Tauqir and young Shoaib Sarwar took the score to 229 when Kashif trapped Tauqir leg before for 64. His knock off 115 balls contained eight boundaries and a six. Sarwar took charge and went for his shots. Despite wickets falling at the other end, he tried hard to pull UAE towards the target.
Schiferli ended UAE's chase by having Fahad Al Hashmi leg before. Sarwar remained unconquered on 54 with six boundaries and two sixes.
BRIEF SCORES
Netherlands (first innings) 287
UAE (first innings) 289
Netherlands (second innings) 343 UAE (second innings) 277 (Arshad Ali 25, Saqib Ali 43, Nizel Fernandez 56, Mohammad Tauqir 64, Shoaib Sarwar 54n.o, Edgar Schiferli 3 for 47, Peter Borren 2 for 40).
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