Dubai , 4 April 2008United Arab Emirates (UAE) dented the Netherlands ' hopes of qualifying for the final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup when it took a slender two-run first innings lead on the second day at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
To stay in the race for a place in the final, the Netherlands really needed to collect the maximum 20 points from this match. But after conceding a two-run first innings lead, only 14 points are now available which will make the task of Jerome Smits’ side even stiffer as it is currently lying fourth in the table on 34 points from four matches.
Namibia, which is currently playing Scotland in Windhoek, leads the way with 68 points, followed closely by Kenya on 66 points and defending champion Ireland on 49 points but the Irish have one game in hand over the teams ahead of it.
The UAE resumed its first innings on the second morning at 10-0 in reply to the Netherlands ’ 287 and looked on course for a decent first innings lead when it reached 281-6. However, at that stage, the Netherlands ’ paceman Edgar Schiferli produced a superb spell of fast bowling as the home team lost four wickets for eight runs to be bowled out for 289 a stroke before the close of play.
Schiferli finished with figures of 18-5-48-5 which was his best bowling figures in his 17-match career. The 31-year-old from Quick Haag was well supported by Daan van Bunge (2-32) and Muhammad Kashif (2-84).
For the UAE, captain Saqib Ali and wicketkeeper Amjad Ali scored good half centuries while Khurram Khan, Rashid Khan and former captain Arshad Ali made useful contributions.
Amjad Ali was a model of concentration and application as his 55 came off 190 balls and included just four boundaries while Saqib Ali was as attacking as ever, hitting eight boundaries and a six in his 73-ball 58. The two batsmen put on 68 runs for the third wicket.
Khurram also batted positively, stroking seven boundaries in his 55-ball 45 while Rashid Khan hit three fours and a six in a 69-ball 36. Arshad Ali followed up his 5-43 on Thursday with a tidy 34 from 93 balls with two fours. He put on 69 runs for the first wicket with Amjad Ali.
The ICC Intercontinental Cup has quickly grown in stature and profile since its inception three years ago and now the ICC's premier first-class tournament is an integral part of the Associate Members' cricket schedule.
Having previously been designed around a two-group, three-day format, the event has evolved into an eight-team, round-robin and truly global tournament featuring four-day cricket which gives those teams who do not play Test cricket the chance to experience the longer form of the game.
Scotland won the first ICC Intercontinental Cup in 2004, beating Canada in the final, while Ireland has been victorious in both events since then, beating Kenya in the 2005 decider and Canada in the 2006-07 event.
The final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08 will take place in November 2008 in the United Arab Emirates .
ICC MEDIA RELEASE