Batsmen, Bukhari script massive win over UAE
Mudassar Bukhari and Michael Rippon starred in a comprehensive 84-run win for the Netherlands against United Arab Emirates in the one-off Twenty20 International at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Wednesday (February 3).
Defending 157, The Netherlands bowlers ran through UAE's line-up, bowling the side out for 73 in 16.4 overs, with Bukhari, the medium pacer, returning 4 for 7 from his four overs and Rippon, the chinaman bowler, picking up the last three wickets for figures of 3 for 8 from 3.4 overs.
Mohammad Usman (49 not out in 44 balls) was the only UAE batsman to reach double figures as four batsmen fell for ducks.
Michael Swart sent back Mohammad Shahzad in the very first over, and UAE simply came undone after that. Shaiman Anwar fell tamely, edging behind off Bukhari, while Paul van Meekeren trapped Swapnil Patil lbw, both batsmen out for ducks. Bukhari then returned to remove Hafiz Qaleem and Fahad Tariq in the fourth over as UAE was reduced to an incredible 7 for 5, with Usman helpless at the other end.
With half the side back in the pavilion, Usman held up his end and even unleashed two sixes and a four against van Meekeren to show he was not going down without a fight. He finished with the highest score of the match, a 44-ball knock studded with four fours and three sixes, but it was scant consolation as Rippon mopped up the tail for a resounding victory.
Earlier, the Netherlands lost Swart early, caught by Qadeer Ahmed off Mohammad Naveed.
Stephan Myburgh and Wesley Barresi then came together and put on a 53-run stand for the second wicket. While Barresi took time getting his eye in, Myburgh kept the pressure on UAE with the occasional boundary. He looked well set, but had to depart for 35 after chipping a delivery from Shahzad to Ahmed Raza at cover.
The foundation had been set and it was just a matter of capitalising on it. Peter Borren, the captain, joined Barresi at the middle and ensured they did exactly that, putting on a 77-run stand with the runs coming at a fast clip.
Borren especially took a liking to Raza's left-arm spin, carting him for 18 runs in the 16th over. Rohan Mustafa bowled Borren for a 28-ball 43 and Barresi (48 in 45) was run out two balls later in the 18th over, but the Netherlands managed to take the total past 150, and, as it turned out, well past UAE's reach.
Please clickhereto review the match in full in theICC Match Centre