ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES v UGANDA Surprisingly, on what looked and proved to be a good batting wicket, Uganda elected to field first. The visitors made a fine start when Dennis Tabby had Arfan Haider caught at the wicket in his first over, but Arshad Ali and Khurram Khan added 74 runs. Uganda retaliated by removing Arshad Ali and Saqib Ali to leave the match evenly placed with the home side on 103 for three. Khurram Khan and Naeemuddin Aslam looked in control in a partnership of 73 runs and it was somewhat unexpected when Khurram Khan mis-hit a ball from Tabby and offered a return catch. Naeemuddin Aslam maintained a positive approach and was untroubled by any of the bowlers, which was just as well for the Emirates, since wickets fell regularly at the other end. Far from wilting under Naeemuddin’s onslaught, Uganda’s bowlers prevented any worthwhile partnerships developing. Nevertheless, Naeemuddin was 120 not out at the close, having hit 16 fours. With nine wickets down, however, he was joined by the last man, so the innings was not expected to last long on the second day. Contrary to expectations, the Emirates frustrated the Ugandans, the last pair adding a further 47 runs to extend the tenth-wicket partnership to 65. Qasim Zubair defended stoutly for an undefeated 18, made at a strike rate of 21.1, and it was Naeemuddin Aslam who departed first to a fine deep-field catch by Franco Nsubuga. His 152 included 20 fours and came at a strike rate of 59.6. Roger Mukasa and Arthur Kyobe responded in one-day style putting on 35 from six overs before the lunch break. The partnership was extended to 77 in the afternoon before the Emirates’ captain turned to spin to which both openers succumbed. An interesting duel took up the rest of the day as Fayyaz Ahmed and Arshad Ali bowled with such control that the run rate slowed almost to a standstill. However, they could not break the resistance of Akbar Baig and Lawrence Sematimba. The pair added 128 at a strike rate of 40.6 before, in the penultimate over of the day, the Emirates returned to a pace attack and Baig gave a catch to Fayyaz Ahmed at deep point. Ronald Ssemanda survived as nightwatchman to leave Uganda 132 runs behind with seven wickets in hand. Uganda added 30 runs before losing Sematimba whose 89 came at a strike rate of 45.1. Ssemanda did more than required of a nightwatchman, however, and, together with Benjamin Musoke, took Uganda to 327 for four. With a large Ugandan first-innings lead in prospect, Khurram Khan decided to set attacking fields and put several fielders round the batsman to apply pressure. Uganda’s batsmen seemed nonplussed and were unable to respond as four wickets fell for the addition of only five runs. It was left to the experienced Nsubuga to make the runs required to secure first-innings points, hitting five fours and one six in his score of 37. He was aided by a defiant Charles Waiswa who managed 2 runs in just over an hour at the crease and a strike rate of 4.8! Amjad Ali picked up four wickets with his medium pace and was responsible for keeping Uganda’s lead down to only 12 runs. The Emirates began their second innings poorly against the new ball, wielded by Waiswa and Tabby, and lost two wickets for 25, before Arshad Ali and Saqib Ali put on 77 to give the home side a lead of 102 at the close. Arshad Ali and Saqib Ali gave masterly displays of batting on the last morning, taking their partnership for the third wicket to 183 before Saqib Ali was run out. Arshad Ali went on to complete his century, but the Emirates lost wickets quickly as they tried to increase the scoring rate against the Ugandan spin attack and get enough runs to make a declaration. When the latter eventually came, Uganda were set to score 271 off 45 overs which would have required a run-a-ball. Not unnaturally, they declined but, with nothing to play for, their batsmen seemed bemused as how best to approach the rest of the day. After an uneventful opening stand of 24, Amjad Ali, Qasim Zubair and Shoaib Sarwar brought about a spectacular collapse. Uganda went from 24 for no wicket to 24 for three, 33 for four and 36 for five and were looking in danger of defeat. Ssemanda again showed his defensive ability and with help from Arthur Ziraba and Nsubuga, a draw was salvaged. Fifteen runs were made in the last 15 overs before the captains agreed to end the game. 230 ICC Intercontinental Shield 2009-10