Those who were protesting against the reduction of number of teams in 2019 got their case strengthened after what happened in Brisbane. The match between Ireland and United Arab Emirates definitely qualified to be the first match in this edition to end in a nail biter. There had been other close matches, in fact United Arab Emirates was involved in a thriller themselves, but nothing came any closer to this. Ironically, all the close matches that have been played in this tournament had involved associates.
Ireland won the toss and decided to bowl first. Having chased 300+ against West Indies, they must have thought it is their strength. Each team have made one change to their squad. Manjula Guruge, the left-arm seamer, replaced the offspinner Nasir Aziz. Ireland had also brought in Alex Cusack for off-spinner Andy McBrine.
UAE started their innings very cautiously. They knew the importance of keeping the wickets and wanted to bat the full overs to post a good total on the board. With their experience against Zimbabwe, they knew that they could push the scoring towards the end of the innings to post a decent score if they had wickets. They saw through the powerplay without losing wickets, scoring 44. In the 12th over and 14th over, UAE lost two wickets. UAE were 53/2. Amjad Ali also departed soon after scoring 45. Soon UAE lost another wicket. Halfway mark UAE were 92/4 with vetaran Khurram Khan and top scorer for UAE from previous match, Shaiman at crease. Before the batting powerplay began, UAE lost another two wickets and they were reeling at 131/6 at end of 35 overs.
Javed, who was instrumental to push their score to 285 against Zimbabwe was at crease with the top scorer of that game Shaiman. With six wickets down, Ireland would have thought the game is in their favour. Now began the UAE onslaught, for which Ireland were definitely not prepared. The two added 47 runs in the batting powerplay. UAE now 178/6. Amjad took the lead in the aggression. Shaiman scored another 50 of the tournament in 51 balls.
It seemed Ireland was letting the good work slip here. All of a sudden the runs had started flowing. Once a sub 200 chase now easily looked like a chase somewhere between 240-250. It seemed to be the same story as against the West Indies, where they gave away 43 runs in the batting powerplay and conceded 124 runs in the last 10 overs. After his 50, Shaiman changed gears ably supported by Javed. The pair added 100 runs in 65 balls. Finally their partnership lasted 71 balls before Javed got out at 46.1 overs. 107 runs that they scored together is the highest seventh wicket stand for any team in World Cup history. There has never previously been a 100-plus stand for the seventh wicket in World Cups.
Shaiman's belligerence continued and Ireland seemed a bit rattled and Kevin O'Brien seemed to have no answer to Shaiman. In the 48th over, he conceded 19 runs and in the same over Shaiman completed his first century in just 79 balls. He is the first batsman from UAE to score a World Cup hundred and the second UAE batsman to do so in any ODI. The only other UAE batsman to score an ODI hundred is Khurram Khan. Shaiman finally got out at the score of 106 and UAE finished at 278/9, their third highest total in ODI and another 275+ score in this tournament. Ireland conceded 100 runs in the last 10 overs.
In an era where 300 is a par score, 279 should be chased, that is what Ireland would have thought going into the break. Considering Ireland is the only team which has chased 300+ score 3 times in the world cups, they should be backing themselves here. Whatever be the history, this is another match and would have a scoreboard pressure while chasing. if fact, it is they who made it difficult for themselves in spite of a good start with the ball.
In spite of defending a good total, UAE could not have asked for more. In form batsman Stirling was dismissed in the 2nd over itself, when the score was just 4. Having received an early jolt, Ireland were determined not to lose any further wicket even at the expense of increasing required run rate. Both Joyce and Porterfield literally put their anchors and Ireland were 35/1 at the end of powerplay. Guruge and Naveed bowled exceptionally.
Amjad Javed was introduced immediately after the powerplay. In his very first over came a moment, which may served as an hint to UAE that it was not their day. On the fourth ball, Javed bowled a yorker on the off stump and Ed Joyce was completely beaten. The ball clipped the off stump, the bail went off its groove and as everyone in the fielding team started celebrating, to their dismay they found that the bail landed back in the groove. As per the law, the bail has to be completely removed from the top of the stumps. Further it states that "The disturbance of a bail, whether temporary or not, shall not constitute its complete removal from the top of the stumps". Javed would have felt hard done.
On the other hand, Ed Joyce who was fluent in his innings against West Indies was living dangerously in this innings. He could have been run out 3 times, could have been bowled and even could have been caught. But when it seemed that it was going to be his day, Javed had the last laugh and got him out caught behind in the 19th over. Finally Ireland's resistance was broken. Joyce and Porterfield had added 68 runs in 102 balls. Ireland were feeling the suffocation and soon Porterfiled also played across a Tauquir ball and got bowled. Soon the inform Niall O'Brien also dismissed. Halfway, Ireland were 97/4 and the asking rate was close to 7.5. There was another partnership between Balbirnie and Wilson, together they added, 74 runs in 80 balls. Ireland were 171/5 in 38.4 overs.
UAE were fighting passionately. The amateurs were not giving any easy chance to Irish batsman. Wickets at regular interval meant that the game was moving towards a tight finish. Kevin O'Brien joined Wilson with 108 required off 68 balls and Wilson was on 43 off 46. Required run rate was touching 10. The only hope for Ireland now was the big-hitting Kevin. Kevin understanding the need of the hour went full throttle on the gas right from the word "Go". Wilson let him be the aggressor and soon Kevin reached 24 runs in 13 balls. By the end of 42nd over the asking run rate had been brought down to 9.
With no choice left, Tauquir went to his "go to" man Javed. And Javed responded. Kevin on his very first ball went for the heave and lofted the ball high in air. Nasir Aziz, the substitute fielder, moving from long-on came a little bit more inside getting into a very poor position. So he had to lean backwards to make a catch of it and eventually spilled it. To add insult to the injury that ball crossed the boundary as well. This drop was to prove costly. Had this catch been taken, UAE could definitely have taken an upper hand. Even now, the odds were in UAE's favour provided, they took their chances.
The heat, both of the moment and the actual one was taking a toll on the fielders and batsmen. Wilson was cramping and so were the fielders. UAE had lost their opening bowler Manjula Guruge, who bowled exceptionally in the beginning to possibly cramps.
After the drop, Kevin went on to add another 22 runs to his tally, scoring 50 off just 24 balls. Javed on whose bowling he was dropped the previous over dismissed him this time. Kevin had played a crucial part in the Ireland chase scoring 50 runs off 25 balls. When he left, Ireland still required 36 off 32 balls with 4 wickets in hand. This brought back the memory of the Zimbabwe chase against UAE, when Zimbabwe required 32 off 32 balls with 4 wickets in hand. UAE were marginally in a better situation here. Another close contest was on the cards.
Javed started the 49th over. Ireland required 10 runs of 12 balls, pretty much gettable, only concern for Ireland, only 2 wickets left. Javed bowled 2 dots balls to Cusak. Then gave 3 runs in next 2 balls. It was getting tighter. Ireland required 7 runs of 8 balls. Javed went back length and Dockrell went over the cover for a 4 and the equation read 3 runs of 7 balls. The last over equation was 3 runs of 6 balls. The match now was clearly beyond UAE's reach and Ireland prevailed with four balls to go.
Ireland did not make it easy for themselves. First they let UAE off the hook when they were bowling conceding 147 runs in the last 15 overs. Then their batting collapsed in the chase. Had it not been Kevin's pyrotechnics, it could have been a different result. It was an important match for Ireland to win and they would be happy to have 2 more points.
It was Kevin O'Brien who changed the complexion of chase. If it was not for his 50 off 25 balls, it could have been a different result.
But then it was Shaiman Anwar who scored 106 off just 83 balls that allowed the UAE bowlers to defend a decent total.
But for me, the man of the match is Amjad Javed. It was Javed who took the attacking route in UAE innings. He added record 107 runs with Shaiman Anwar and inspired him as well to go the attacking way. When bowling, he was the one who broke the partnership between Joyce and Porterfield upfront. He took the wicket of dangerous Kevin O'Brien when he looked like taking away the match single handed. Then he took Mooney's wicket to add pressure on Ireland. Later he took the all important catch to get rid off Wilson. He was the one who helped UAE comeback whenever the game seemed drifting away from them. It was a pity that he ended up on the losing side.
Javed, who was instrumental to push their score to 285 against Zimbabwe was at crease with the top scorer of that game Shaiman. With six wickets down, Ireland would have thought the game is in their favour. Now began the UAE onslaught, for which Ireland were definitely not prepared. The two added 47 runs in the batting powerplay. UAE now 178/6. Amjad took the lead in the aggression. Shaiman scored another 50 of the tournament in 51 balls.
It seemed Ireland was letting the good work slip here. All of a sudden the runs had started flowing. Once a sub 200 chase now easily looked like a chase somewhere between 240-250. It seemed to be the same story as against the West Indies, where they gave away 43 runs in the batting powerplay and conceded 124 runs in the last 10 overs. After his 50, Shaiman changed gears ably supported by Javed. The pair added 100 runs in 65 balls. Finally their partnership lasted 71 balls before Javed got out at 46.1 overs. 107 runs that they scored together is the highest seventh wicket stand for any team in World Cup history. There has never previously been a 100-plus stand for the seventh wicket in World Cups.
Shaiman's belligerence continued and Ireland seemed a bit rattled and Kevin O'Brien seemed to have no answer to Shaiman. In the 48th over, he conceded 19 runs and in the same over Shaiman completed his first century in just 79 balls. He is the first batsman from UAE to score a World Cup hundred and the second UAE batsman to do so in any ODI. The only other UAE batsman to score an ODI hundred is Khurram Khan. Shaiman finally got out at the score of 106 and UAE finished at 278/9, their third highest total in ODI and another 275+ score in this tournament. Ireland conceded 100 runs in the last 10 overs.
In an era where 300 is a par score, 279 should be chased, that is what Ireland would have thought going into the break. Considering Ireland is the only team which has chased 300+ score 3 times in the world cups, they should be backing themselves here. Whatever be the history, this is another match and would have a scoreboard pressure while chasing. if fact, it is they who made it difficult for themselves in spite of a good start with the ball.
In spite of defending a good total, UAE could not have asked for more. In form batsman Stirling was dismissed in the 2nd over itself, when the score was just 4. Having received an early jolt, Ireland were determined not to lose any further wicket even at the expense of increasing required run rate. Both Joyce and Porterfield literally put their anchors and Ireland were 35/1 at the end of powerplay. Guruge and Naveed bowled exceptionally.
Amjad Javed was introduced immediately after the powerplay. In his very first over came a moment, which may served as an hint to UAE that it was not their day. On the fourth ball, Javed bowled a yorker on the off stump and Ed Joyce was completely beaten. The ball clipped the off stump, the bail went off its groove and as everyone in the fielding team started celebrating, to their dismay they found that the bail landed back in the groove. As per the law, the bail has to be completely removed from the top of the stumps. Further it states that "The disturbance of a bail, whether temporary or not, shall not constitute its complete removal from the top of the stumps". Javed would have felt hard done.
On the other hand, Ed Joyce who was fluent in his innings against West Indies was living dangerously in this innings. He could have been run out 3 times, could have been bowled and even could have been caught. But when it seemed that it was going to be his day, Javed had the last laugh and got him out caught behind in the 19th over. Finally Ireland's resistance was broken. Joyce and Porterfield had added 68 runs in 102 balls. Ireland were feeling the suffocation and soon Porterfiled also played across a Tauquir ball and got bowled. Soon the inform Niall O'Brien also dismissed. Halfway, Ireland were 97/4 and the asking rate was close to 7.5. There was another partnership between Balbirnie and Wilson, together they added, 74 runs in 80 balls. Ireland were 171/5 in 38.4 overs.
UAE were fighting passionately. The amateurs were not giving any easy chance to Irish batsman. Wickets at regular interval meant that the game was moving towards a tight finish. Kevin O'Brien joined Wilson with 108 required off 68 balls and Wilson was on 43 off 46. Required run rate was touching 10. The only hope for Ireland now was the big-hitting Kevin. Kevin understanding the need of the hour went full throttle on the gas right from the word "Go". Wilson let him be the aggressor and soon Kevin reached 24 runs in 13 balls. By the end of 42nd over the asking run rate had been brought down to 9.
With no choice left, Tauquir went to his "go to" man Javed. And Javed responded. Kevin on his very first ball went for the heave and lofted the ball high in air. Nasir Aziz, the substitute fielder, moving from long-on came a little bit more inside getting into a very poor position. So he had to lean backwards to make a catch of it and eventually spilled it. To add insult to the injury that ball crossed the boundary as well. This drop was to prove costly. Had this catch been taken, UAE could definitely have taken an upper hand. Even now, the odds were in UAE's favour provided, they took their chances.
The heat, both of the moment and the actual one was taking a toll on the fielders and batsmen. Wilson was cramping and so were the fielders. UAE had lost their opening bowler Manjula Guruge, who bowled exceptionally in the beginning to possibly cramps.
After the drop, Kevin went on to add another 22 runs to his tally, scoring 50 off just 24 balls. Javed on whose bowling he was dropped the previous over dismissed him this time. Kevin had played a crucial part in the Ireland chase scoring 50 runs off 25 balls. When he left, Ireland still required 36 off 32 balls with 4 wickets in hand. This brought back the memory of the Zimbabwe chase against UAE, when Zimbabwe required 32 off 32 balls with 4 wickets in hand. UAE were marginally in a better situation here. Another close contest was on the cards.
As against Zimbabwe, it was up to Naveed and Javed to bowl the last 5 overs. Now it was Wilson's turn to up the ante. Wilson scored 12 runs in 46th over bowled by Naveed. Ireland were now chasing runs less than the balls available - 23 off 24 balls.
Once again, UAE's key man Javed gave a scare to Ireland in the 47th over. On the 5th ball, Wilson went down on a knee to hit Javed and missed. UAE appealed for LBW which was turned down. From naked eye, on the first instance, it looked as if the ball had just hit outside the line of off stump. With one review pending UAE did not want to waste it by not taking at this crucial juncture. It seemed that their review was justified as the replays showed the ball had come back enough to hit him in front of off stump. But then there was a twist to the tale, the replay also showed the ball to be only clipping the top of the stumps, which meant that the umpire's call would prevail, which in this case was NOT OUT. It seemed the luck had deserted UAE. But that was not the case. The very next ball, Mooney trying an adventurous shot got out. Javed had conceded only 3 runs in this over, one of which was a leg bye and taken a wicket. The equation - Ireland required 20 runs of 18 balls with 3 wickets to spare.
Wilson was facing Naveed and it was now or never for both of them. Wilson hit consecutive four of the first two balls, to Ireland's delight. But soon the table were to be turned. It was Javed again in action. Naveed's thrid ball was short and angled into Wilson. Wilson tried to steer it to the third man, the ball was in air for a while and that was enough for Javed, at short third man, to dive forward and pluck a low catch. Wilson's laboured innings had come to an end. He had scored 80 off 69 balls and could not take Ireland over the line. The equation seemed balanced at this point of time. Now it was up to who held their nerve better more than anything else. Ireland needed 12 off 15 balls with 2 wickets in hand.
Javed started the 49th over. Ireland required 10 runs of 12 balls, pretty much gettable, only concern for Ireland, only 2 wickets left. Javed bowled 2 dots balls to Cusak. Then gave 3 runs in next 2 balls. It was getting tighter. Ireland required 7 runs of 8 balls. Javed went back length and Dockrell went over the cover for a 4 and the equation read 3 runs of 7 balls. The last over equation was 3 runs of 6 balls. The match now was clearly beyond UAE's reach and Ireland prevailed with four balls to go.
Ireland did not make it easy for themselves. First they let UAE off the hook when they were bowling conceding 147 runs in the last 15 overs. Then their batting collapsed in the chase. Had it not been Kevin's pyrotechnics, it could have been a different result. It was an important match for Ireland to win and they would be happy to have 2 more points.
What a heartbreak for UAE! They came so close to winning it. There had been moments that were not seized by them. It was two thrillers for UAE in a row but this one was a real nail-biter. What a roller-coaster it was! In the end, it was a game of nearlys, could have beens and should have beens.
My man of the match:
Gary Wilson was declared the man of the match by the jury. He played the anchor role and played the aggressor after Kevin left, but he did not finish the job in hand.
But then it was Shaiman Anwar who scored 106 off just 83 balls that allowed the UAE bowlers to defend a decent total.
But for me, the man of the match is Amjad Javed. It was Javed who took the attacking route in UAE innings. He added record 107 runs with Shaiman Anwar and inspired him as well to go the attacking way. When bowling, he was the one who broke the partnership between Joyce and Porterfield upfront. He took the wicket of dangerous Kevin O'Brien when he looked like taking away the match single handed. Then he took Mooney's wicket to add pressure on Ireland. Later he took the all important catch to get rid off Wilson. He was the one who helped UAE comeback whenever the game seemed drifting away from them. It was a pity that he ended up on the losing side.
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