DUBAI // The UAE's cricketers enjoyed a rare afternoon to themselves after sauntering to a fourth consecutive victory in the World Cricket League yesterday.
The ease with which they settled their eight-wicket win over Uganda before 1pm was a variation on a well established theme.
When the UAE last played a series against the African side at home, just over a year ago, they won their first 50-over match in Sharjah with 44 overs to spare.
Seeing as most of their players had taken a day's leave from work to play that day, they decided to make the most of it by spending the rest of the afternoon having a practice session.
They finished so early again this time around that the lunch vouchers were being handed around at the same time as Ahmed Raza, the in-form spinner, was receiving his man-of-the-match memento.
The end came almost too quickly for some. Naeemuddin Aslam, the national team batsman who is a full-time member of staff at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Global Cricket Academy, where the match was played, was nearly coaxed in to work the rest of the day.
Judging by the ruthlessness of their victory push, the UAE players feel they have something to prove in this tournament.
There are various incentives on offer in the World Cricket League Division Two, which involves six countries who make up the second tier of the non-Test game.
The UAE have already achieved the first goal, clinching a place in the top four that earns them a high performance grant from the ICC.
Of the four top nations, the governing body will decide who will be included in the next edition of the Intercontinental Cup, the premier four-day tournament, irrespective of who finishes where at the end of this competition.
On this form, the UAE are doing all they can to prove they deserve inclusion and force the ICC's hand at the development committee's May 7 meeting. Yesterday's win was again built by their battery of slow bowlers.
Arshad Ali and Shadeep Silva, two of the top four wicket-takers in the tournament, took three early wickets, before Raza mopped up the middle order with four for 17 as Uganda crumbled to 87 all out.
It was not the first time Raza has been a hero this week.
There are few better equipped No 11s going around cricket than the 22-year-old Pakistani, and his side were indebted to him with the bat for an opening day win over Namibia.
However, he was keen to prove his worth in his main suit, as a left-arm spin bowler, after an uncharacteristically errant display the day before.
"I had an off day against Hong Kong [on Monday] so I was focused about coming back and having a good game against Uganda," Raza said. "The senior players and the coach backed me to come back and perform in this game, and it gave me belief in myself as well that I could do well."
In the day's other games, Namibia beat Bermuda by 86 runs and Hong Kong lost to Papua New Guinea by 43 runs.
pradley@thenational.ae
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As it stands in Pool A
1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14
2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11
3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5
Remaining fixtures
Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am
Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm
Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Need to know
When: October 17 until November 10
Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration
Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center
What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.
For more information: www.koreafestivaluae.com
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The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
UAE WARRIORS RESULTS
Featherweight
Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)
TKO round 2
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Split points decision
Welterweight
Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)
TKO round 1
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Unanimous points decision
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
TKO round 1
Catchweight 100kg
Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)
Rear neck choke round 1
Featherweight
James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)
TKO round 2
Welterweight
Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Unanimous points decision
Bantamweight
Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Unanimous points decision
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)
TKO round 1
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)
TKO round 3
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Submission round 2
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
TKO round 2
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Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
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THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed
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