The UAE bowlers did their job and continued the team’s resurgence by beating Namibia by 34 runs with a day to spare to win their second consecutive ICC Intercontinental Cup game on Monday.
The tourists resumed play on 116-6 with a 173-run advantage but set the Namibians a target of 215 for victory having been bowled out for 157 in the second innings.
Namibia never really settled at the crease with the UAE bowlers making things difficult right from the word go.
Qadeer Ahmed got the first and only wicket by removing Lohan Louwrens for a duck. It wasn’t long before the UAE were celebrating again when Ahmed Raza, who claimed 6-61 in the first innings, removed Stephan Baard as Namibia were reeling 22-2.
Another spinner Imran Haider got into the act, taking two scalps in the same over with the scoreline reading 51-4. While Raza claimed another, captain Rohan Mustafa and pacer Mohammed Naveed took three and four wickets respectively.
With just one wicket in hand and needing 80 runs to win, the UAE were sensing victory.
But they were frustrated for more than 20 overs as Bernard Scholtz (27) and Petrus Burger (16) shared a 10th-wicket stand of 46 runs.
Very proud of these special guys @EmiratesCricket after their @ICC Cup win v Namibia pic.twitter.com/A2lCV8Jbns
— Dougie Brown (@dougie1brown) September 18, 2017
Yet, in the last half hour of the day’s play, the UAE got their reward with vice-captain Shaiman Anwar running out Berger.
The UAE now sit in fourth position with 47 points in the standings with one game remaining.
Captain Mustafa hailed the team for their tremendous efforts particularly the bowlers.
“The guys played very well and the bowlers did the job and especially Imran Haider,” said the 28-year-old bowler.
“We gave away our wickets but winning against Namibia in Namibia is good for us especially as we don’t play this format often.”
