Published: Dec 02, 2014, 02:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 02, 2014, 02:48 PM (IST)
Dec 02, 2014
United Arab Emirates have set Afghanistan a challenging total of 274 for victory in the third One-Day international at Dubai cricket academy. UAE achieved the total on the back of strong top order performances. Skipper Khurram Khan top scored with 85* and Mohammad Shahzad also made a valuable 62.
Sent into bat the UAE openers Amjad Ali and Andri Berenger took the Afghanistan bowlers to the cleaners in the powerplay overs. They were quick to capitalise on anything lose dished out by the Afghanistan bowlers, bringing up their fifty in the ninth over. The partnership was broken by Mirwais Ashraf as he dismissed Berenger for 28 with the UAE score on 68.
Berenger’s dismissal brought Mohammad Shahzad to the crease, but even with the wicket runs continued to flow for UAE. The duo of Amjad and Shahzad kept the momentum going for the UAE. Subsequent to crossing the 100 run mark, Amjad was dismissed against the run of play, three short of what would have been his fourth ODI fifty. Shahzad though didn’t miss out, in company of captain Khurram Khan Shahzad completed only his second ODI fifty with a massive six before being dismissed by Samiullah Shenwari for 62.
The top Order had set the game up beautifully for a final assault in the last 10-15 overs but the innings never quite hit top gear. Khurram Khan has continued the trend of keeping the record books busy. He scored yet another half century to propel UAE’s score to 273 from the stipulated fifty overs. He began sedately with a strike rate of about 50 runs per 100 balls off the first 40 deliveries he faced, before exploding out of the blue and eventually finishing with 85* from 80 balls. His innings included nine fours. Afghanistan must win this game to keep the series alive, as UAE lead the four match series two nil.
Brief scores:
UAE 273 for 5 in 50 overs (Khurram Khan 85* , Mohammad Shahzad 62; Dawlat Zadran 2 for 51, Samiullah Shenwari 1 for 22)
