Coach Brown: ‘I can accept losing but can’t accept losing it the wrong way because of poor decisions’
Ahmed Kutty/Gulf NewsAhmed Raza in actioin against PNG during the ICC wolrd cricket league championship at the Zayed sports city yesterday Photo
Abu Dhabi: The UAE lost five wickets for 13 runs and allowed Papua New Guinea (PNG) to register a sensational 26-run victory in the second ICC World Cricket League Championship match at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium Sunday.
PNG had lost the first ODI by 82 runs but following this win they continue to occupy second spot in the standings behind the Netherlands with 14 points from seven wins. The UAE are second last behind Namibia with four points with two wins from 10 matches.
“We didn’t play very well in the first game and our game plans were not executed. It was one of those days when we tried harder and it got worse for us. We regrouped ourselves and we had better plans for the UAE today and it came good,” said PNG coach Dipak Patel.
PNG’s victory can be attributed to the fine half century by Vani Morea and the inspiring bowling performance by Assad Vala, who swung the tide in favour of his team completely with figures of three for 20.
Set to chase 232 for the win, the UAE were very much on course after skipper Rohan Mustafa (37) provided a solid start despite losing Mohammad Qasim (11) to Norman Vanua. Mustafa then added 68 runs for the second wicket with Ghulam Shabber before falling prey to Mahuru Dai for 37.
Shabber, however, remained undeterred and put on a 57-run stand with Shaiman Anwar — but as soon as the latter got run out for 15, the UAE were blown away like a pack of cards. Vala, the off-spinner, trapped Shabber leg before for 70 and thereafter it was a procession. The UAE were eventually bundled out for 206 in 47.4 overs.
“Our bowling and fielding today was very good and our fitness levels were of high standards and it helped us today. We have got a very good mixture of young and experienced players. Not as experienced as the UAE boys but we play as a unit and are trying to gain as much experience as possible. We need to play more often with experienced teams so that we can make less mistakes,” added Patel, whose team lost an early wicket after taking the first share of the crease.
Tony Ura — looking for a cheeky single at midwicket, which wasn’t there — was run out following smart fielding by Adnan Mufti and stumper Shabber wiped off the bails in a flash.
Opener Morea in the company of Lega Siaka then resurrected the PNG innings with a second wicket partnership of 52 runs. Useful contributions also came from Dogodu Bau (46), Vala (23), and Sese Bau (27) as PNG managed 242 for 8 in 50 overs. For the hosts, Imran Haider and Zahour Khan were the pick of the bowlers claiming two wickets apiece.
The UAE coach Dougie Brown was furious with the way his team lost the contest saying: “We had spoken about taking responsibility when you are at the top of your game and it didn’t happen. It is a full game and if you lose a passage of game then the game can turn on its head. I can accept losing but can’t accept losing it the wrong way because of poor decisions that our players made or get wrapped up in pressure which actually wasn’t there.”
Brief Scores: Papua New Guinea beat UAE by 26 runs. Papua New Guinea 232/8 (50 ov) (Vani Morea 52, Dogodu Bau 46, Zahoor Khan 2 for 34, Imran Haider 2 for 31. UAE 206 in 47.4 overs (Rohan Mustafa 37, Ghulam Shabber 70, Assad Vala 3 for 20, John Reva 2 for 42, Norman Vanua 2 for 20.
Standings
Teams Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts
Netherlands 10 7 1 0 2 16
Papua New Guinea 10 7 3 0 0 14
Hong Kong 10 5 4 0 1 11
Scotland 8 4 1 0 3 11
Kenya 10 5 5 0 0 10
Nepal 10 4 6 0 0 8
United Arab Emirates 10 2 8 0 0 4
Namibia 8 1 7 0 0 2
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