PNG v Kenya
Sunday turned out to be a massive one for Papua New Guinea as they came back from behind to beat Kenya and ensure their qualification for the T20 World Cup next year. From 19/6 to 118 all out and then bowling Kenya out for 73, PNG did a commendable job in yet another riveting performance.
PNG 118/10 (Vania 54, Bundi 4/18) beat Kenya 73 (Karim 29, Vala 3/7) by 45 runs
Hong Kong vs Nigeria
Hong Kong made light work of the newbies Nigeria at Abu Dhabi. After allowing only 81 runs to be scored on a sluggish surface, Hong Kong stumbled here and there during the onslaught before overhauling the target with five wickets to spare. Nizakat Khan and Kinchit Shah were the pick of the batsmen in the run chase.
Nigeria 81/8 in 20 overs (Aizaz Khan 2 for 5) lost to Hong Kong 82/5 in 7.1 (Kinchit Shah 25, Nizakat 21)
Oman vs Jersey
Jersey was put in to bat by Oman in the 40th match of the tournament and went on to make 141/7 on a slow wicket aided by Nick Ferraby’s 41 and Nick Greenwood’s 22. With a big target, considering the surface, in front of them, Oman collapsed to 6 for 3 before a fourth wicket stand revived them a touch. Dominic Blampied and Elliot Miles picked three wickets apiece as Oman lost their way again and ended up 14 runs short.
Jersey 141/7 in 20 overs (Ferraby 41, Nadeem 4/23) beat Oman 127/9 in 20 overs (Maqsood 56, Miles 3/22)
Scotland vs Netherlands
In the high profile clash at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Netherlands compounded misery on a listless Scotland side by thumping them by four wickets. Put in to bat, Scotland could only make 130 with Matthew Cross, the wicket-keeper, the sole half-centurion. Netherlands were 17/2 but small partnerships and the valiant hand of Ryan ten Doeschate meant that they overhaules the target with four wickets to spare.
Scotland 130/8 in 20 overs (Cross 52, Seelar 2/12) lost to Netherlands 131/6 (ten Doeschate 51, Watt 3/18) by four wickets
UAE v Canada
In another unexpected result, Mohammad Usman’s 89 and Waheed Ahmed’s three-wicket haul fired UAE to a 14-run win over Canada who had been bossing the tournament so far. Batting first, UAE put up 154 at Abu Dhabi on the slow deck and Canada faced with a daunting ask, never really appeared to be in the game. They ended up 14 runs short with five wickets to spare.
UAE 154/5 in 20 overs (Usman 89, Zafar 3/21) beat Canada 140/5 (Dhaliwal 41, Waheed 3/21) by 14 runs