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James spins a web around UAE batsmen

UAE captain Mohammed Tauqir’s half century from 42 balls studded with three 4s and five 6s gave the UAE some hope till he was the last man out.

Dubai — Off spinner James Oguche claimed five wickets for 26 runs from 8.3 overs to spearhead Kenya to a 65-run victory over the UAE in the sixth World Championship League Cricket (ICC WCLC) fixture at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, UK on Saturday.

Shem Oguche (2-32) gave James splendid support to restrict the UAE to 205ao off 44.3 overs after Kenya who were sent in earlier, registered 270-6 on the scoreboard from the full quota of 50 overs.

UAE captain Mohammed Tauqir’s half century from 42 balls studded with three 4s and five 6s gave the UAE some hope till he was the last man out, caught by Nelson Odhiambo at long off, off James’ bowling.

In the Kenya innings splendid knocks by Irfan Karim 67, skipper Rakeb Patel (59 n.o.) and Shem Ngoche’s quick unbeaten 56 aided Kenya to compile a decent score. In the first match they were shot out in 40.5 overs on Thursday.

For the UAE, Shaiman Anwar fought a lonely battle initially for 43 from 45 deliveries. His knock contained three 4s and three 6s. Later seven down Tauqir and six down Ahmed Raza (23 from 38 balls) fought well trying to halt the early inroads by the Kenyan bowlers.

In the first outing on Thursday, the UAE beat Kenya in the fifth fixture by five wickets at the same neutral venue and the sides, both placed in Group B of ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 in Ireland and Scotland (July 9-26), played another closely fought game on Saturday.

The UAE sent Kenya in after winning the toss for the second straight time, and the east African side made steady progress to their total with the backing of five batsmen who played mostly in front of the wicket to accumulate their totals.

Led by four down Patel’s and Ngoche’s fine knocks, Kenya were able to put up a decent target for the UAE to chase. Patel’s essay was a mixture of caution and aggression with five fours and two 6s while six down Ngoche was more adventurous in his tenure with four 4s and four 6s.

Opener Narendra Patel played a stylish innings of 32 from 34 balls and he was concerned in a short partnership with keeper batsman Irfan Karim who stroked out a responsible 107-ball 67 before Patel and Ngoche began their unconquered half century workouts.

Mohammed Naved (2-58) who took four wickets in the first match on Thursday was again tight and miserly, at least in the initial overs, when the Kenyans found it difficult to negotiate the moving ball.

New ball partner Manjula Gurunge (2-46) who scalped three victims in the Thursday fixture too was difficult to get away with. First change bowler — medium pacer and allrounder Amjad Javed — claimed two wickets though he was the most expensive of the UAE bowlers conceding 65 runs from his quota of 10 overs.

Brief scores: Kenya 270-6 from 50 overs (Narendra Patel 32, Irfan Karin 67, Nelson Odhiambo 20, Rakeb Patel 59 n.o., Shem Ngoche 56 n.o.; Mohammed Naved 2-58, Majula Gurunge 2-46, Amjad Javed 2-65)

UAE 205ao from 44.3 overs (Shaiman Anwar 43, Amjad Ali 16, Mohammed Shahzad 23, Amjad Jeved 11, Ahmed Raza 23, Mohammed Tauqir 54; Shem Ngoche 2-32, James Oguche 5-26)