UAE completes amazing turn-around win against Bermuda
Irfan Ahmed the final day hero as home side wins by 138 runs after trailing by 168 runs on first innings
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) came back from the jaws of defeat to record a stirring 138-run win over Bermuda on the final day of its ICC Intercontinental Cup match in Abu Dhabi.
The UAE, which conceded a 168-run first innings lead, bundled out Bermuda for 142 runs in 39.2 overs after setting the visitors a target of 282 in 87 overs.
Pace bowler Irfan Ahmed was the star of the show for the home side as, on first-class debut, he claimed 3-35 in the innings to finish with match figures of 5-78.
Ahmed was well supported by fellow fast bowlers Qassim Zubair (2-35) and Shadeep Silva (2-48).
The home team had begun the final day at 409-7 before eventually being bowled out for 449 with captain Saqib Ali scoring a career-best 142.
Both teams were searching for their first wins in this staging of the tournament, the first-class competition for the leading Associate teams, and for Bermuda it would have been especially sweet after a taxing road trip which had already seen them lose to Kenya and also suffer one-day losses at the hands of Uganda.
But things started to go wrong for the visitors almost immediately after its batsmen set out on their run-chase with opener Azeem Pitcher run out without a run on the scoreboard.
Ahmed then sprung into action and ripped the heart out of the Bermuda top order by claiming three wickets in quick succession, including the prized scalp of first innings centurion David Hemp, to leave the visitors reeling at 32-4. And that score soon became 33-5 when Tamauri Tucker became one of Zubair’s victims.
Irving Romaine (32) and Jason Simons (23) halted the rout by adding 49 runs for the sixth wicket but after both departed in quick succession defeat for Bermuda was only a matter of time.
Kevin Hurdle delayed the inevitable by clobbering three sixes and two fours in a 19-ball 31 and out of all the Bermuda players he will be the one with most reason to feel let down by his team mates.
The fast bowler followed up his first innings 6-45 with 4-94 in the UAE second innings, completing his maiden ten-wicket match haul. And all that after he made 26 in Bermuda’s opening effort of 311, sharing a ninth-wicket stand of 132 with Hemp, who made an unbeaten 174.
The UAE began the final day by adding 40 runs to its overnight score to be dismissed for 449. The home side resumed at 409-7 with Saqib, who started the day at 126, eventually dismissed by Hurdle for 142. During his 394-minute stay at the crease he faced 259 balls and hit 20 fours.
After adding 155 runs for the fourth wicket with Arshad Ali (185) on day three, Saqib posted an eighth wicket stand of 65 with Zubai (28 not out).
Hurdle took all three UAE wickets to fall on the final morning while his opening bowling partner, the teenage Malachi Jones, also gave a good account of himself and finished with 4-84.
The result gave the UAE 14 points while Bermuda had to settle for six from its first innings lead. The UAE now has 17 points from three matches while Bermuda is at the bottom of the eight-team table with those six points gained in Abu Dhabi, but from four games.
The field is led by Kenya which has 40 points from two matches, six points clear of the Netherlands which has played one match more. Defending champion Ireland lies third in the ladder, five points behind the Dutch but three points ahead of Canada – which has played four matches, more than any other side so far. 2004 champions Scotland, like Canada, has 26 points while Namibia is in sixth place with 20 points from one match it has played so far.
This match was the last in the tournament in 2007 with the remaining games to be played next year ahead of the final, which will take place at a date and location to be confirmed.
