In the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualification Play-off, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canada respectively overcame tenacious showings from Papua New Guinea and Jersey to earn their first points and retain their prospects of moving on to the next round.
In a thrilling second day of the game, Canada beat Jersey by 31 runs while the UAE overcame a spirited Papua New Guinea (PNG) team by 21 runs.
Chad Soper (4-43) provided his team the perfect start by using the new ball to its fullest potential and taking four wickets in his first stint.
During the first 20 overs, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem played by himself since no other hitter was able to enter the batting order. But, the confident presence of 17-year-old Aayan Khan liberated Waseem, and the batter increased the stakes after 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 last 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 expulsion in the 21st over, which was against the flow of play. Karthik Meiyappan, a leg-spinner (4-444), 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 do the same while while making progress toward the goal.
Yet, the UAE bowlers were tenacious and consistently delivered wickets. UAE won thanks to a clean up job by Zahoor Khan (3-49), Aayan (1-33), and Junaid Siddique (1-23) in the bottom order.
The loss of four batsmen for 56 in the first 10 overs indicated that Canada’s top order needed more application than purpose. The North American squad was unable to capitalize on the unpredictable performance of ODI debutants Jersey at that time, who let up 16 additional 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), gave them security. 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 score 54 runs in the last 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 goal 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.
Nevertheless, Canada gained a foothold in the match when Lawrenson was removed for 66 by Dutta (2-30) in the 40th over. It was still anyone’s game with Canada leading by 61 runs and two new batsmen 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 ultimately knocked out.
Brief ratings:
By 21 runs, the UAE defeated PNG 239 all out in 48.3 overs (Kiplin Doriga 73, Tony Ura 56; Karthik Meiyappan 4-45, Zahoor Khan 3-49) with a total of 260/7 (Muhammad Waseem 96, Aayan Khan 94 not out; Chad Soper 4-43).
With 31 runs, Canada defeated Jersey 207 all out in 47.5 overs (Josh Lawrenson 68, Nick Greenwood 59; Jeremy Gordon 3-30, Saad Bin Zafar 3-51, Nikhil Dutta 2-30) with 238/8 (Srimantha Wijeyeratne 63, Nikhil Dutta 56; Charles Perchard 3-38, Benjamin Ward 2-35).
