Dubai: After a crushing defeat in their first match, the UAE national cricket team suffered a narrow loss against the Netherlands in the second and last ODI at Deventer.
The Netherlands’ Peter Borren and Pieter Seelar revived the Dutch innings, which suffered a collapse midway in their chase of the UAE’s target of 221. Opener Michale Swart’s quickfire 48, which included three sixes, had set the home side nicely up at 162-4 in the 36th over.
However, the UAE fought back through an inspired spell by left-arm spinner Ahmad Raza, who picked up two wickets to spark a Dutch collapse which would see them lose four wickets for just 18 runs.
At that stage the UAE seemed to have the upper hand and it was then that Borren and Seelar steadied the innings with some sensible batting. The two ran hard between the wickets and hit only one four and a six. The six by Seelar off Khurram Khan signalled the Dutch victory by three wickets and eight balls to spare.
Earlier, the UAE, put in to bat, lost their first wicket with no runs on the board, but regrouped to post a challenging total. Skipper Khurram led from the front, hitting seven boundaries and a six in his 85-ball 71. He was well supported by opener Haroon Iftikhar, who made 41 runs in 77 deliveries, and Shaiman Anwar (39).
Seelar also starred with the ball taking three wickets for 44 runs as the UAE struggled against the 25-year-old’s wily left-arm spin
The loss sees the UAE slip further down the World Cricket League Championships into fourth place behind the Netherlands, Scotland and Ireland.
