ICC World Cup Qualifier 2018: UAE Stuns Zimbabwe To End Their World Cup Hopes

United Arabia Emirates defeated Zimbabwe by 3 runs to end the hosts hopes of making it to next year’s World Cup.

Chasing a revised total of 230 in 40 overs, Zimbabwe were off to a disastrous start.  Solomon Mire and Hamilton Masakadza were back in the hut with just 18 runs on the board.  Brendon Taylor and Peter Moor then stopped the rot for a while before Ahmed Raza dismissed Taylor to leave Zimbabwe tottering at 45 for 3. Moor and Sean Williams then laid the platform for the chase with a 79-run stand before Moor was dismissed for 39.

Williams along with Sikandar Raza kept Zimbabwe in contention. The duo added 61 runs for the fourth wicket before Mustafa accounted for Raza. 21 runs later, Musatafa struck again, removing a well-set Williams to leave the fate of the match hanging in balance.

The equation was finally down to 15 off the last over. However, they could manage only 11 runs, thus finishing on 226 for 7.

That Zimbabwe had such a modest total to chase was mainly because of their bowler’s disciplined effort. Barring Tendai Chatara, all of their bowlers conceded less than 6 runs per over. Sent in to bat first, UAE were off to a poor start as their opener Ashfaq Ahmed was sent back cheaply.

However, skipper Mustafa and Ghullam Shabber steadied the ship with an 82-run stand. The partnership was broken when Raza trapped Mustafa lbw for 31. 14 runs later, Raza struck again, this time removing Shabber to leave the Asian team reeling at 106 for 3.

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Rameez Shahzad and Shaiman Anwar then set the tone for a good score by adding 74 runs. However, once Rameez Shahzad was dismissed by Chatara, UAE lost their way. They kept on losing wickets at regular intervals before Mohammad Naveed (22 off 10) helped them post a decent total. They were 235 for 7 in 47.5 overs before rain ended their innings.

 

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