UAE go on top with 2nd successive victory as Scotland, Ireland post wins

Mohammad Abdullah, Staff Reporter

Chirag Suri (44) and Rameez Shahzad (54) put up splendid batting performances as the UAE made light work of Hong Kong to notch up a second consecutive victory at the World T20 qualifier on Monday.

With the victory, the UAE have gone to the top of their group with four points from three matches, after having won two and losing one.

Chasing a paltry 116, UAE overhauled the target for the loss of just two wickets with two 4.5 overs to spares.  UAE lost their first wicket cheaply as Rohan Mustafa (10) was dismissed with just 20 runs on the board. But Suri and Shahzad added 93 runs for the second wicket to all but end Hong Kong’s hopes.

Shahzad was more brutal of the two as he hit six boundaries and three over the top off 37 deliveries for his 54 while Suri played watchfully to remain unbeaten.

Earlier, UAE bowlers bowled brilliantly to restrict Hong Kong to 116/7 after the South Asian rivals got off to a decent start as the openers added 40 runs of the first wicket.

But they failed to get the momentum going and lost quite a few in quick succession to pushed on the back foot whence they could never recover.

Meanwhile, Scotland defeated high-flying PNG by four runs in a thriller in Dubai to register their second win of the tournament.

But PNG,who won both their opening matches, are still on the top of their group with points form three matches on run-rate difference.

Elsewhere, Ireland defeated Oman by 35 runs to live the billing of being the favourites in the tournament. After posting 183/3, Ireland restricted Oman to 148/9 in their allotted 20 overs.

In another match, Kenya mauled Bermuda by 45 runs to open their account in the WT20 qualifiers after facing defeats in two matches.

Kenya raced to 138/4 in their 20 overs and restricted out of color Bermuda to a meagre 93 in 18.5 overs. Kenya’s Gondaria struck a well-timed 85 off 67 balls with the help of six fours and one six. Collins Obuya was the pick of the bowlers as he returned with a figure of 4-27