ABU DHABI: Maiden ODI centuries for Chundangapoyil Rizwan and Muhammad Usman, who shared a fourth wicket partnership of 184, steered UAE to an impressive six-wicket win over Ireland in the first of a four-match series on Friday.
Chasing 270, Rizwan and Usman came together with UAE wobbling on 51-3 in the 13th over but they calmly rebuilt the innings until man-of-the-match Rizwan was removed for 109 with 35 runs still needed.
A quickfire unbeaten 10-ball 18 from Waheed Ahmed helped to guide them home with an over to spare, the experienced Usman finishing on 102 not out.
Opener Paul Stirling paced himself superbly to bat through the innings and claim his 10th ODI century after Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie won the toss and chose to bat. His 131 not out came off 148 balls and included nine fours and four sixes.
He shared a second wicket partnership of 102 with Balbirnie who made 53 from 61 balls but the innings faltered with the captain’s dismissal as Ireland reached 269-5 from their 50 overs.
Pace bowler Barry McCarthy ripped out openers Zawar Farid and Vriitya Aravind, and when Curtis Campher found the outside edge of Alishan Sharafu’s bat, the home side were in serious trouble.
Rizwan, 32, and Usman, 35, dug in, though, for the next 33 overs to swing the game back to the hosts.
Rizwan, originally from Kerala in India, struck nine fours and a six in his 136-ball 109 while Lahore-born Usman’s unbeaten 102 came from 107 balls and included seven fours and three sixes.
The second ODI takes place on Sunday when UAE are still likely to be without vice-captain Chirag Suri and uncapped left-arm spinner Aryan Lakra who both missed Friday’s opener after testing positive for Covid-19.
Following the UAE series, Ireland will remain in the country to play three ODIs against Afghanistan.
Scores in brief:
Ireland 269-5 in 50 overs (Paul Stirling 131 not out, Andy Balbirnie 53); UAE 270-4 in 49 overs (Chundangapoyil Rizwan 109, Muhammad Usman 102 not out).
Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2021
