A vital century-stand between Shaiman Anwar and Muhammad Usman proved to be the difference as the UAE booked their spot in next month’s World Cup Qualifier with a tense 19-run victory over Namibia.
The national team knew exactly what was required before a ball was even bowled. A win in their last World Cricket League Division Two clash would seal their passage to the 2019 showpiece final qualifying event in Zimbabwe.
It didn’t start off brightly at Windhoek with openers Ashfaq Ahmed and Rohan Mustafa dismissed with just 22 on the board. But 38-year-old Anwar used all his experience to form a 120-run partnership with Usman that propelled them to 247-6.
In that crucial stand, Anwar hit 77 runs including five boundaries and three sixes off 59 deliveries while Usman scored 59 (two sixes and three fours).
Defending 248, the hosts Namibia were already 33-2 inside seven overs. Gerhard Erasmus (58) and Craig Williams (54) gave them hope but although the match was briefly stopped due to rain, the rest of the batsmen could not cope with UAE’s bowling attack as skipper Rohan Mustafa and Amir Hayat each took three wickets.
For Mustafa, he praised his players for the way they bounced back in the competition after successive losses to Nepal and Canada earlier in the week.
“Everyone is feeling really happy to have won the game and to still be in contention for the World Cup,” said the 29-year-old. “We nearly exited the tournament but to now qualify is a tremendous achievement.
“There were a lot of the guys under pressure to perform and I have to give full credit to every player in this squad because we continued to press and play to our potential on the field.”
The victory not only saw them reach the event to be held in Zimbabwe but also means the UAE have retained their ODI status.
Mustafa’s side can end the competition on a high on Thursday when they take on league leaders Nepal in the final. Although both sides have qualified, the result will determine which group they will be placed in at the Qualifier tournament.