KUALA LUMPUR, June 20: Defending champions United Arab Emirates cruised to the final of the Asian Cricket Council Trophy after brushing aside Kuwait in the semifinal played at the Royal Selangor Club here on Sunday.
Oman also made it to the final after defeating Qatar by four wickets. UAE scored a massive 338 in their 50 overs while Kuwait fell short of the target by 120 runs, managing only 218 in reply.
Three players - two from UAE and one from Kuwait - scored centuries in the best match so far in the tournament. UAE openers Azhar Saeed (111) and A. Ali (118) putting up a 193-run partnership before Saeed fell.
Kuwait raced to 100 before the fall of their first wicket but once star batsmen Khalid Butt, who scored 114, was out the rest of the Kuwaiti batsmen fell. In the other semifinal, Oman defeated Qatar by four wickets. Qatar, batting first, were dismissed for 158 in 47 overs. Oman in reply reached their target in 33.5 overs. -AFP
