Captain Mohammad Tauqir’s half-century went in vain as the UAE suffered a 65-run defeat to Kenya in their ICC World Cricket League Championship clash on Saturday.

– Radio cricket: The tale of the Indian superfan
– Sangakkara: Sri Lanka legend to retire in August
– Ashes: Cook aims for biggest success in career
– GALLERY: Cricket’s top-ten batsmen in the world

Chasing 271 at Southampton’s Rose Bowl Nursery, the UAE were all out for 205 as Kenyan off-spinner James Ngoche claimed five wickets including Tauqir’s, who struck five sixes and three boundaries in his 54-run knock.

Having beaten Kenya on Thursday by five wickets, the UAE were eyeing their second straight victory over their opponents and in the competition.

Instead, they came up against a spirited side, who posted a challenging 270-6 thanks to an unbeaten seventh-wicket partnership of 121 between captain Rakep Patel (59) and Shem Ngoche (56).

That stand proved to be the difference as the UAE had no answer to the bowling variations of James, who also dismissed dangerman Shaiman Anwar (43).

With a tough target to reach, the UAE never really got going. Opener Amjad Ali, who scored 49 in their first game, was the first to go falling to Lucas Oluoch in the fifth over. His team only managed another 16 runs before Qais Farooq soon followed after he was caught by James off Nehemiah Odhiambo.

With the score 37-2, Anwar and all-rounder Mohammad Shahzad steadied the innings. 

It wasn’t long before Shem broke the stand with Shahzad hitting straight to Patel. Things got worse as the dismissals of wicket-keeper Swapnil Patil (9) and Abdul Shakoor (5) left the UAE reeling at 83-5.

Anwar, who became the UAE’s first batsman to score a World Cup century earlier this year, showed his potential as he built a healthy partnership with Amjad Javed.

Their 35-run stand ended as Anwar was cleanly bowled by James with 118 on the board. With Kenya gaining the upper hand, Javed became James’ second victim of the game but tail-enders Tauqir and Ahmed Raza showed some fightback with a 62-run alliance.

James Ngoche struck again to remove Raza (23) and fast-bowler Mohammad Naveed (0) before wrapping up victory with Tauqir’s dismissal.

Earlier, Kenya recovered from two early wickets as seamer Manjula Guruge and Javed removed openers Morris Ouma (5) and Narendra Patel (32) with the score 48-2.

Despite the breakthrough, Irfan Karim (67) restored the Kenyan charge and frustrated the opponents with a half-century. His time at the crease came to an end as he became Guruge’s second scalp with the score 139-5.

With more than 13 overs remaining, Kenya looked in real danger of not crossing the 200-run mark but Patel (59 off 39 balls) and Shem (56 off 36) showed remarkable resistance to frustrate the UAE bowlers.

Tauqir’s side now travel to Scotland this week ahead of their World Twenty20 qualifiers next week.