19 August 2006

UAE PROVE A POINT

Malaysia v U.A.E. at Kinrara Oval

U.A.E. WON BY EIGHT WICKETS

The UAE emphasised their class with a straightforward 8-wicket victory against Malaysia to clinch top spot in Group A. They now play Qatar in the quarter-finals. Malaysia will play Afghanistan.

The toss was about the only thing that went right for Malaysia all day as, batting first none of the top-order could settle, the middle-order was ripped out by left-arm spinner Shadeep Silva and the tail hardly wagged at all.

Dinesh Muthuraman

Malaysia finished on 143 and that was never going to put the UAE under any kind of pressure on a good batting wicket and a fast outfield.

A wicket in the first over, as Thushara Kodikara yorked Muhammad Iqbal did raise Malaysia's hopes. However, when Arshad Ali is in the kind of form he's in, coupled with Saqib Ali (arguably the best batsman in the competition), then any body who comes up against them is going to struggle.

Sooner or later, someone - most likely Nepal or Afghanistan, is going to test the UAE. Until then, each match is just another practise session for the team.

There were just not enough runs on the board to play with and the UAE cruised home in the 30th over. "They (the UAE) are definitely beatable", said John Bailey, Malaysia's coach after the match. "We batted very poorly so couldn't put them under any pressure. We underperformed and know what we have to do if we come up against them again in the competition."

GROUP A
Malaysia v U.A.E. at Kinrara Oval
Toss: Malaysia
UAE WON BY EIGHT WICKETS
Malaysia: 143 all out in 49.3 overs (S. Muthuraman 51*; S. Silva 4-26, K. Khan 3-32)
UAE: 145 for 2 after 22.1 overs (A. Ali 83*, S.Ali 52*)
Man of the Match: Arshad Ali (UAE)

Points: U.A.E. 2, Malaysia 0