Muscat: Opener Muhammad Waseem’s scintillating hundred powered the UAE to an overwhelming seven-wicket victory against Ireland in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022, at the Al Amerat Ground, here on Thursday.
Waseem’s sparkling ton (112) came off just 66 deliveries and was studded with eight sixes and seven fours at a strike rate of almost 170.
UAE and Ireland have already qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 to be held in Australia on account of them reaching the final of the Qualifier.
UAE START PRECARIOUSLY
UAE struggled to get going initially as they lost the wicket of Chirag Suri in the fourth over off Josh Little.
Little then delivered a knock-out blow to UAE when their star batsman and the in-form Vriitya Aravind was caught by Simi Singh.
At 12/2, UAE found themselves in a similar situation as that of Ireland and they needed a rebuilding effort.
Muhammad Waseem took Barry McCarthy to the cleaners in the seventh over with a six and a four that showed some signs of resurgence.
Waseem and Rohan Mustafa stitched together a 141-run partnership during the course of which Waseem cracked a glorious hundred.
IRELAND WOBBLE YET FINISH WELL
Ireland were off to a flying start as they picked 11 runs off the first over from Junaid Siddique. But their joy was shortlived as skipper Andy Balbirnie was caught behind by wicket-keeper Vriitya Aravind off a peach of a delivery from Zahoor Khan in the second over.
Kashif Daud struck soon after in the third over taking out the busy Gareth Delany when Muhammad Waseem held onto a skier at long off.
The Irish had some rebuilding to do at 18/2 against a threatening UAE bowling attack.
When star batsman Paul Stirling perished at gully caught by Junaid Siddique off Rohan Mustafa, Ireland were in deep trouble at 19/3.
Lorcan Tucker struck a couple of boundaries to get the scoreboard ticking but Ireland had a lot of work to do.
Tector got cracking for Ireland as he slammed a six over long off when Kartik Meiyappan was introduced into the attack for UAE.
Tector hoisted Meiyappan for another six over his head in the ninth over of Ireland’s innings as the game gained some pace.
Tucker then struck a boundary before holing out at long off to Muhammad Waseem as Ireland slid to 62/4.
Basil Hameed compounded the problems further for Ireland as he clean bowled Andy McBrine.
Simi Singh was the next to go for Ireland as he was trapped leg before wicket by Junaid Siddique as UAE looked to close out.
Shane Getkate struck some lusty blows in between the snail-paced action as Ireland got past the 100-run mark.
The 55-run partnership between Tector and Getkate came to an end when the latter was castled by Zahoor Khan in the 17th over.
Tector was sent packing in the last ball of the same over after a well-made fifty when Basil Hameed pulled off a brilliant catch at long on.
Mark Adair’s six off Zahoor in the 19th over took Ireland past the 150-mark, a very creditable effort considering the situation they were in.
Barry McCarthy smashed a six off the second ball of the 20th over as Ireland looked to touch 160 but Rohan Mustafa got McCarthy and Adair out with the score on 159.
OMAN FINISH FOURTH
Nepal outplayed Oman comfortably in a one-sided third-place playoff match by nine wickets.
Oman were restricted to 87/9 in 20 overs batting first and Nepal chased own the target with 22 balls to spare to finish at 90/1 in 16.2 overs.
Sandeep Lamichhane continued his good run picking up 3/13 in four overs to run riot all over Oman.
Kushal Bhurtel’s half-century sealed the deal for Nepal without a fuss.
Brief scores: Final:
Ireland: 159 all out in 20 overs (Harry Tector 50, Shane Getkate 30; Zahoor Khan 3-29, Rohan Mustafa 3-30) lt to UAE: 160/3 in 18.4 overs (Muhammad Waseem 112, Rohan Mustafa 37)
Third-place playoff:
Oman: 87/9 in 20 overs (Zeeshan Maqsood 21; Sandeep Lamichhane 3-13) lt to Nepal: 90/1 in 16.2 overs (Kushal Bhurtel 55)
