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All-round Javed hands UAE 13-run win

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Amjad Javed’s all-round brilliance helped United Arab Emirates post a narrow 13-run win against Kenya in a Super Sixes clash of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2013-14 on Tuesday (January 28). Javed scored a 31-ball 63 to help UAE put up 246 for 8, before taking 2 for 29 as Kenya was restricted to 233 all out at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Javed, who walked in with UAE on 172 for 6 in 43 overs, dominated proceedings to score a lion’s share of the 74 runs that UAE hit in the last seven overs. He hit five boundaries and three sixes during his 31-ball blitz before he was dismissed off the last ball of the innings.

Earlier, UAE found itself in a spot of bother at 13 for 3 in seven overs. Khurram Khan, the captain, and Swapnil Patil, the wicketkeeper, then got together for a 69-run stand until Patil (36) was run out in the 25th over. Khurram stayed on and anchored the innings, adding 76 more runs with Rohan Mustafa (26), before departing for a 125-ball 85.

Nehemiah Odhiambo was Kenya’s best bowler, returning figures of 4 for 54 off his 10 overs. Duncan Allan took 2 for 62 and Thomas Odoyo accounted for Mustafa.

Kenya lost wickets early during its chase. Irfan Karim (39), the opener, got a start, but when he fell, Kenya was in trouble at 55 for 4 in 19.2 overs. Collins Obuya (41) and Morris Ouma (42) then put on a 77-run stand off 98 balls. Once the duo departed in the space of 14 deliveries, a 39-run stand off 37 balls between Rakep Patel (27) and Steve Tikolo (16) followed. However, with the required rate mounting, Kenya was facing a difficult challenge.

A 25-run stand for the last wicket between Odhiambo (20 not out) and Hiren Varaiya (10) got Kenya closer, but the innings ended in 49.3 overs with Varaiya falling to Kamran Shazad.

UAE’s bowlers hunted in a pack. Mohammad Naveed returned figures of 3 for 40, while Shazad and Manjula Guruge got a couple of wickets each along with Javed, who complemented his good work with the bat to finish as his side’s most economical bowler too.