The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ended Hong Kong’s three-match winning streak with a seven wickets victory while Nepal has knocked Papua New Guinea (PNG) out of the top spot in Group B with a seven wickets victory on day five of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2013 (WT20Q).
In one of six matches played on Tuesday, the UAE inflicted Hong Kong’s first loss of the tournament when it won the crucial Group A fixture against the table-topping side by seven wickets at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi. The UAE has now joined Hong Kong and Ireland on six points, with the defending champion Ireland having played one less match. Captain and man of the match Khurram Khan was the architect of his side’s victory when he scored an unbeaten 67 off 42 balls.
In the other matches of the day, Kenya’s veteran star Steve Tikolo claimed four wickets for two runs to help secure a 92-run victory for his side over Scotland and Netherlands defeated Denmark by seven wickets to go top of Group B. Namibia recorded a last-ball victory against Italy to win by three wickets, Nepal defeated Papua New Guinea (PNG) by seven wickets, and Canada recorded its first victory of the tournament, defeating Uganda by 44 runs.
In Abu Dhabi, the UAE restricted Hong Kong to 138 for the loss of eight wickets, despite a rapid start spearheaded by captain Jamie Atkinson’s 34-ball 42. Nizakat Khan’s dismissal on 27 in the 17th over led to a batting collapse, and Hong Kong added only 16 runs for the loss of four wickets, with Manjula Guruge (3-19) and Nasir Aziz (3-20) doing most of the damage.
The home side chased down the target inside 19 overs on the back of Khan’s unbeaten knock of 67 from 42 deliveries and Mohammad Azam’s 37 (2x4, 1x6).
Despite the loss, Hong Kong remains on top in Group A, while the UAE has moved above Ireland into second position.
In the second top of the table clash of the day, Nepal defeated PNG by seven wickets to retain second place in Group B and knock PNG into fourth. Nepal skipper Paras Khadka took three for 22 as PNG was restricted to 140 for six, before Binod Bhandari belted one four and six sixes for an unbeaten 51 as Nepal achieved its target with 10 balls and seven wickets to spare.
In other matches, Netherlands recorded its third victory of the tournament when it defeated Denmark by seven wickets with more than nine overs to spare at ICC Academy Oval 2. Ahsan Malik (four for 10) and Stephan Myburgh (54 not out) starred in Netherlands’ victory.
As a result, Netherlands move into first position in Group B and PNG drop to fourth.
Also in Dubai, Kenya’s veteran star Steve Tikolo starred with the ball to help secure a commanding 92-run victory for his side over Scotland at ICC Academy Oval 1. Man of the match Ragheb Aga shored up Kenya’s innings with a late charge to end with an unbeaten 52 to help his side to183 for seven. In its chase, Scotland slipped from 35 for one to 91 all out in 13.2 overs, as Tikolo claimed four wickets for only two runs.
In Abu Dhabi, a 66-run third wicket partnership between Craig Williams (57) and Louis van der Westhuizen (41) was the cornerstone of Namibia’s three wickets victory over Italy at Abu Dhabi Oval 1. Batting first, Italy posted 121 for six in its allotted 20 overs and in its chase Namibia managed to overhaul the target on the last ball. It was Namibia’s second win and Italy’s third defeat in four matches.
Canada secured its first victory of the tournament when it defeated Uganda by 44 runs at Abu Dhabi Oval 1 in an afternoon clash. An unbeaten 58 by Jimmy Hansra saw Canada post a total of 137 for seven, before Uganda was dismissed for 93 in the 18th over.
Alongside Tikolo and Malik, day five’s bowling honours went to the UAE pair of Manjula Guruge (three for 19) and Nasir Aziz (three for 20), Nepal captain Paras Khadka (three for 22), the Canada duo of Jeremy Gordon (two for nine) and Abzal Dean (two for 16), Kenya’s Shem Ngoche (two for 17) and Netherlands skipper Peter Borren (two for 17).
Amongst the batsmen, the UAE’s Khurram Khan (67 not out), Canada’s Jimmy Hansra (58 not out), Namibia’s Craig Williams (57), PNG’s Geraint Jones (55), Netherlands’ Stephan Myburgh (54) and Kenya’s Ragheb Aga (52 not out) were the star performers.
For full match reports from each of today’s matches, please click here.
Scores in brief:
At Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Hong Kong 138-8, 20 overs (Jamie Atkinson 42; Nizakat Khan 27; Manjula Guruge 3-19, Nasir Aziz 3-20)
UAE 142-3, 18.4 overs (Khurram Khan 67 not out, Mohammad Azam 37, Swapnil Patil 20 not out; Tanwir Afzal 2-16)
Result: UAE won by seven wickets
Man of the Match: Khurram Khan (UAE)
At Abu Dhabi Oval 1, Abu Dhabi
Italy 121-6, 20 overs (Mick Raso 35 not out, Carl Sandri 31; JJ Smit 2-23)
Namibia 122-7, 20 overs (Craig Williams 57, LP van der Westhuizen 41; Carl Sandri 2-23, Shan Munasinghe 2-23)
Result: Namibia won by 3 wickets
Man of the Match: Craig Williams (Namibia)
At Abu Dhabi Oval 1, Abu Dhabi
Canada 137-7, 20 overs (Jimmy Hansra 58 not out, Ashish Bagai 40; Davis Karashani 2-25, Roger Mukasa 2-33)
Uganda 93 all out, 17.2 runs (Davis Karashani 28, Phillimon Mukobe 21, Jonathan Sebanja 20; Jeremy Gordon 2-9, Abzal Dean 2-16)
Result: Canada won by 44 runs
Man of the Match: Jimmy Hansra (Canada)
At ICC Academy Oval 1, Dubai
Kenya 183-7, 20 overs (Ragheb Aga 52 not out, Collins Obuya 36, Nehemiah Odhiambo 26, Alex Obanda 25, Nehemiah Odhiambo 20; Majid Haq 2-21, Iain Wardlaw 2-43)
Scotland 91 all out, 13.2 overs (David Murphy 20, Steve Tikolo 4-2, Shem Ngoche 2-17)
Result: Kenya won by 92 runs
Man of the Match: Ragheb Aga (Kenya)
At ICC Academy Oval 2, Dubai
Denmark 109-8, 20 overs (Kamran Mahmood 41; Ahsan Malik 4-10; Peter Borren 2-17)
Netherlands 110-3, 10.4 overs (Stephan Myburgh 54 not out, Peter Borren 22 not out, Wesley Barresi 22)
Result: Netherlands won by 7 wickets
Man of the Match: Ahsan Malik (Netherlands)
At Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
PNG 140-6, 20 overs (Geraint Jones 55, Mahuru Dai 36 not out, Tony Ura 22; Paras Khadka 3-22, Amrit Bhattarai 2-27)
Nepal 141-3, 18.2 overs (Binod Bhandari 51 not out, Subash Khakurel 38, Paras Khadka 26 not out)
Result: Nepal won by seven wickets
Man of the Match: Binod Bhandari (Nepal)