Aaqib Javed grounded after UAE start hot in World Cup Qualifier

After the UAE's second win in as many matches at the 2015 World Cup qualifying tournament on Wednesday, UAE coach Aaqib Javed insisted his side wasn't getting overconfident.

The UAE won by 80 runs on Wednesday for their second big-margin victory in as many games. Satish Kumar / The National

Amjad Ali and captain Khurram Khan missed out in scoring centuries but did more than enough to lead the UAE to their second straight win today in the ICC World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand.

Amjad hit 91 and Khurram was run out for 88, after the pair set the platform with a 130-run stand for the second wicket as the UAE to posted 286 for six after electing to bat first.

Jimmy Hansra succeeded where the two Emirates batsmen didn’t in scoring a century but Canada could muster only 206 for six for UAE to complete a resounding second win in the competition at the Mainpower Oval in Rangiora.

Mohammed Naveed (2 wickets) and Manjula Guruge (1) struck early to leave Canada reeling at nine for three before Hansra (100 not out) and Raza ur Rahman (43) rebuilt the inning with an 89-run stand in 149 balls for the fourth wicket.

“To have taken three early wickets after we put on a challenging total was the key in winning this game,” Aaqib Javed, the UAE coach, said.

“Our openers [Salman Faris and Amjad] saw off the new ball and then Naveed and Manjula provided the vital breaks when Canada were batting. Those were the crucial periods in the game.”

Amjad and Faris (18) added 52 off 77 balls for the first wicket before Khurram joined the UAE wicketkeeper in the most fruitful partnership.

Shaiman Anwar (1), the centurion against Nepal in the opener, was run out to a direct hit but contributions from Swapnil Patil with a run-a-ball 36 not out and Amjad Javed 23 from 13 deliveries saw them finish their inning in a flourish.

“The pitches are slow but good for batting,” Aaqib said. “It is a bit challenging, though, because the batsmen have to adjust and they have adjusted pretty well.”

Aaqib’s strategy of playing his four medium pacers has also worked well with the two new-ball bowlers Naveed (10-0-36-2) and Guruge (10-1-29-1) being the pick of the bowling.

“We are playing against familiar opposition and they expected us to start with a spinner, a ploy that has been successful for us in the recent past,” the former Pakistan fast bowler said.

“The good thing in our squad is that we have a lot of bowling options and those who can bat and bowl as well. Playing with four pacers has done the trick in the first two games but we will keep changing this strategy depending on the opposition.”

The UAE have now won all their four games in New Zealand, including the two warm-up matches against Uganda and the Netherlands.

“It is a good start indeed but we are not going overboard with the success we have had so far,” Aaqib said.

“Already we have seen a couple of upsets with Namibia defeating Netherlands and Hong Kong’s win over Scotland. So we need to keep our feet firmly rooted to the ground against every team.

“We have told the players to think only of our next game than looking beyond it even with the success we have had so far.”

The UAE play Scotland on Sunday and a win would guarantee them a place in the Super Six stage.

Scores in brief: UAE 286 for 6 in 50 overs (Amjad Javed 91, Khurram Khan 88, Swapnil Patil 36 not out, Khurram Chauhan 3-65) beatt Canada 206 for 6 in 50 overs (Jimmy Hansra 100 not out, Raza ur Rahman 43, Khurram Khan 2-35, Mohammed Naveed 2-36).

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