By K.R. NayarDubai: The UAE stunned Bangladesh’s Under-23 team on Thursday by beating them by 59 runs to clinch a place in the semi-final of the Asian Cricket Council Emerging Cup. Shaimon Anwar and Nasir Aziz were once again the heroes of their emphatic win in the final Group B match played at the Padang Ground in Singapore.Anwar cracked 100 runs off 135 balls with nine boundaries and Aziz produced a deadly five-wicket spell. The UAE will now meet India Under-23 team in the first semi-final on Friday.
Though Afghanistan defeated India Under-23 team in the second match on Thursday by 28 runs, they failed to win a place in the semi-final.
In terms of the UAE, it was Anwar’s second century of the tournament following his unbeaten 119 against Singapore.
Meanwhile, Aziz followed up his spells of 4 for 41 against Singapore and 3 for 39 against Sri Lanka with splendid figures of 5 for 17 from his seven overs against Bangladesh to bag the man-of-the-match award.
Speaking to Gulf News from Singapore, Aziz said: “I feel so happy at bagging five wickets which contributed to our team’s victory. Our win is purely due to our excellent team combination.”
Bangladesh won the toss and put the UAE into bat. Though the UAE slipped to 112 for 5 at one stage, a valuable 64-run partnership between Anwar and skipper Ahmad Raza (24) helped the team post a respectable 202 for 8 in 50 overs. Though Bangladesh were on top at one stage at 133 for 3, they were bowled out for 143 runs in 41 overs with Aziz and Raza striking in quick succession.
A delighted captain Raza told Gulf News that he was hugely proud of his team’s performance. “It was an exceptional innings from Shaimon [Anwar] in hot and humid conditions. Our reliable bowler [Nasir] Aziz has done it again. Playing Sri Lanka before the Bangladesh match turned out to be a blessing in disguise as that match gave us the confidence. We are a team in good form and we are hungry to win tomorrow’s game. The fact that India lost to Afghanistan will work in our favour,” added Raza, whose batting partnership with Anwar and bowling spell of 3 for 22 with Aziz contributed to the victory.
UAE opener Amjad Khan (13), Swapnil Patil (18) and Nasir Aziz’s unbeaten 17 combined well for the challenging total.
Bangladesh got off to a good start, with their openers Soumya Sarkar and Rony Talukder putting on 50 runs.
But Aziz provided the breakthrough, bowling Taulkder for 21, while Raza had Sarkar caught brilliantly by Vikrant Shetty for 30. Maisqur Rahman top-scored with 34 before Aziz and Raza destroyed their innings. – Gulf News via Google News
