Muhammad Waseem and Aayan Khan lead fightback as UAE claim precious win over PNG

The UAE twice fought back from a position of peril to make a fine start to the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off in Namibia.

The national team eventually signed off on a 21-run win over Papua New Guinea in their opening game at the Wanderers in Windhoek.

Even so early in the competition, it was a vital blow struck by a side who have been beset by problems in recent times.

The six-team event carries with it two places in the next stage of the World Cup competition process, which is the global Qualifier in Zimbabwe in June and July.

Because of an alarming slump in results of late, the UAE are also playing for ODI status in Windhoek. They have to finish in the top two out of four teams – the others being PNG, Jersey and Canada – to be assured of that.

Victory in their opener means the UAE are now well placed, but they took the scenic route to earning the two points.

Having been invited to bat first, the UAE were in trouble at the start of their innings. Chad Soper, who has been their tormentor so often in the recent past, took all four wickets as the national team were reduced to 51 for four.

Muhammad Waseem led the resistance. The UAE captain finished four runs short of a second one-day international century – and a second in successive games against PNG – when he chipped up a catch to Tony Ura off Semo Kamea’s left-arm pace.

BRILLIANT!! An outstanding fightback with bat and ball Played