Junaid Siddique stars as UAE end World Cup League 2 tri-series with win over Nepal

As UAE set the seal on their latest Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign with another comprehensive win over Nepal, Junaid Siddique knelt down and cursed his luck in mock aggravation.

He immediately bounced back to his feet with a broad smile, and went off to celebrate the 99-run success with his teammates.

The fast bowler had just been denied a first five-wicket haul in international cricket when Nepal’s final wicket fell. Even Basil Hameed, who took the last wicket, held his head in his hands in disappointment.

A fifth wicket in the innings would have been due reward for Siddique, whose returns have been excellent during the UAE’s intense run of matches over the past six weeks.

He took 4-23 against Nepal, to take his tally to 13 wickets in the eight matches UAE have had over the past two weeks in the World Cup League. No wonder his teammates were willing him on for one more.

“They just wanted the wickets to go against my name, but at the end of the day, the team won,” Siddique said.

“Personal records are nothing. The team ones are what matter and what we all care about.”

In the course of the last 44 days, UAE have played 19 matches across two formats. In that time they have clinched qualification for the T20 World Cup, and established themselves in second place in the qualifying league for the 50-over version.

Siddique has been a mainstay of the effort, establishing himself as the pace spearhead. Yet again, his fine performance against Nepal was in spite of what had felt like a below par return by the team’s batters.

The home team were defending 203, which was brought about by Rohan Mustafa's second successive half-century, on his 50th ODI appearance. Nepal’s batting malaise continued as they managed just 103, which is