The United Arab Emirates and Canada earned their first points in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualification Play-off. Both defeating tenacious efforts from Papua New Guinea and Jersey, respectively.
After a serious scare, UAE defeats spirited PNG
PNG won the coin toss and decided to field.
UAE triumphed by 21 runs.
Chad Soper (4/43) provided his team the ideal start by using the new ball to its fullest potential and taking four wickets in his first spell.
No other batsman was able to come in during the first 20 overs. UAE captain Muhammad Waseem played the lone soldier. But, the confident presence of 17-year-old Aayan Khan liberated Waseem, and the batter increased the stakes once he reached fifty. In Charles Amini’s sixth over, which was taken for 21 runs, he struck three sixes.
The batter’s four-point deficit prevented Semo Kamea (2/38) from recording his second victory. This did not deter Aayan, though, who grabbed the lead from Waseem and went all out in the final innings. His run-a-ball 94 allowed UAE to finish at 260/7.
PNG got off to a fast start thanks to Kiplin Doriga and Tony Ura, who combined 145 runs in the opening 20 overs. In the opening overs, Doriga chose to attack, while Ura joined the fun after settling in.
UAE regained control of the match after Ura’s dismissal in the 21st over, which was against the flow of play. Karthik Meiyappan, a leg-spinner (4/44) quickly picked up four wickets as PNG fell from 146/0 to 162/5.
The PNG hitters could afford to take their time and settle in given the blazing start. They attempted to accomplish the same while while making progress towards the goal.
Yet, the UAE bowlers were tenacious and consistently delivered wickets. UAE won thanks to clean sweeps from Zahoor Khan (3/49), Aayan (1/33) and Junaid Siddique (1/23) in the bottom order.
Late failure prevents Jersey from winning its first game.
Toss: Jersey won and decided to field.
Canada triumphed by 31 runs.
The loss of 4 batsmens for 56 in the first 10 overs. Demonstrated that Canada’s top-order lacked more in application than in purpose. The North American squad was unable to capitalise on the unpredictable performance of ODI debutants Jersey during that time, who let up 16 extra runs. As a result, they were forced to begin the rebuilding process.
Fortunately for them, a 62-run partnership for the fifth wicket between keeper Srimantha Wijeyeratne (63) and Harsh Thaker (27) offered steadiness. The seasoned Nikhil Dutta joined Wijeyratne after Thaker’s defeat in the 24th over (56). Together, they made a significant 70-run stand. Canada could only add 54 runs in the final 10 overs due to the paucity of wickets in hand and Jersey’s disciplined bowling.
Jersey got off to a strong start as they chased a target of 239 points. Nick Greenwood (59) and Josh Lawrenson combined 81 runs for the second wicket after putting on 36 runs for the first wicket with Harrison Carlyon.
The batting momentum was shaken by Greenwood’s defeat, but Josh Lawrenson did his best to keep the innings together and aid Jersey in getting closer to the goal.
However, Canada gained a foothold in the match when Lawrenson was removed for 66 by Dutta (2/31) in the 40th over. It was still anyone’s game with Canada leading by 61 runs and two new batters at the wicket.
Then with a double-wicket 43rd over, captain Saad Bin Zafar (3/51) gave the bowling side the advantage. In the 48th over, Jersey was eventually knocked out.
