UAE succumb again in ICC Twenty20 Qualifiers

The UAE's Amjad Javed is cleaned up by Afghanistan's Dawlat Zadran

Burly 27-year old Nangarhar native Mohammad Shahzad took up the lead role with a match-winning knock of 74 runs to power second seeds Afghanistan past the UAE by eight wickets in a Group B fixture of the ICC Twenty20 Qualifiers-2015 in Edinburgh, on Friday afternoon.
Afghanistan reached their target with a comfortable march to 168-2 from 18.1 overs in reply to the UAE's 164-6 off 20 overs.
For the UAE, seeking to be among the six who will qualify from the 14 sides in the tournament, the chances still look bright as the rest of the opponents in the group are not in the same class as Scotland to whom they lost on the opening day, and the Afghans.
Asghar Stanikzai, the Afghanistan skipper, said: "Shahzad was very impressive and made the chase easy for us as our openers got into a comfortable zone right from first ball."
UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir said, "It's a disappointing result for us as 164 was easily a par score on this pitch, but we didn't bowl or field well. We were never complacent. We knew the areas to bowl to and were aware of the possibility of defending the total. We need to discuss and look at our shortcomings and we have the qualities to qualify."
Aqib Javed, the UAE coach told Khaleej Times: "Shahzad is one player who can tear apart any attack. If he gets going it's a tough ask to contain him. We should be able to finish at least in the top three in the group from the rest of the four matches."
Shahzad, the dashing keeper-batsman, opening the Afghan innings hit seven 4s and five 6s in a 37-ball stay that sent the UAE fielders scurrying all over the field. When he left the crease, the Afghans were 99-2 off 10.2 overs.
Experienced skipper Stanikzai (44 n.o.) coming in at the fall of Navroz Mangal's wicket, and Samiullah Shenwari (30 n.o.) ensured that Afghanistan gained two more points from their second outing in Group B with a fruitful stand of 69.
In their chase, former champs Afghanistan made a solid start before losing opener Mangal for 15 with the scoreboard reading 43. UAE new ball exponent Amjed Javed bowled a slower one that sneaked through the gap between bat and pad to rattle Mangal's castle.
The UAE choosing to bat first, were off to a brisk start (42-0 from five overs). At 63 (6.5 overs) the UAE lost their first wicket when Najibullah Zadran helped right arm medium pacer Mirwais Ashraf dismiss Faizan Asif for 28 made from 19 deliveries, including four 4s and a six. Asif's opening partner Mohammad Shahzad made an enterprising 28-ball 43 before being sent back in the ninth over (77-2) after finding the ropes three times and clouting the ball over it three times. Swapnil Patil (6) left as the UAE inched towards the hundred mark (99-3 in 12.6 overs), run out for the second straight time in the tournament.
One down Shaiman Anwar meanwhile was busy finding the gaps and hoisted three 6s before he left for 35 to see the UAE slip to 132-4 in the 17th over.
In the morning fixtures on Friday, Ireland beat Namibia by seven wickets in Group A. After restricting Namibia to 124-8, Ireland cantered to 128-3 in 17.2 overs in Belfast. Kenya defeated Canada by seven wickets in a Group B encounter racing to 146-3 in 18.3 overs while chasing Kenya's 143-5 achieved in 18.3 overs in Edinburgh and 2013 qualifying tournament runners-up Afghanistan defeated the Netherlands by 32 runs.
moni@khaleejtimes.com