UAE beaten by Netherlands as T20 World Cup hopes hang in the balance

Hosts managed a paltry 80-9 batting first in qualifying playoff in Dubai

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UAE will return to the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday to play a last-chance eliminator match against Scotland, after missing their first shot at qualifying for the T20 World Cup.

The troubled national team were comfortably beaten by the Netherlands in the first qualifying playoff in the T20 World Cup Qualifier on Monday.

The Dutch won by eight wickets, and follow the pool-stage winners Papua New Guinea and Ireland in reaching the main event in Australia in 12 months’ time.

The game was over almost as soon as it had begun. After just 14 balls, the host team had lost four leading batsmen, in a blistering start by the Netherlands pace-attack.

Rohan Mustafa was caught and bowled by Fred Klaasen in the first over. It was just a hint of the troubles to follow.

In the space of four balls at the turn of the third over, the UAE lost three wickets, and Zawar Farid was dropped off the spare delivery.

First, Rameez Shahzad was caught at the wicket off Paul van Meekeren, before Mohammed Usman – the UAE hero against Canada last time out – fell the same way to the very next ball.

Two balls later, Darius D’Silva became the third player to fall for nought, as he was lbw to Brandon Glover. He was the first of four victims to for the pace bowler.

UAE at least avoided humiliation as they rallied from four for four, and then nine for five when Farid was out, to eke out 80 for nine from their 20 overs. Captain Ahmed Raza top scored with 22.

As unlikely as their prospects were, the national team were at least afforded a little hope at the start of the Netherlands reply.

Mustafa bowled Max O’Dowd with the first ball of the second over, to leave the Dutch at five for one.

They were fighting a losing battle, though, and Ben Cooper and Colin Ackermann extinguished any lingering hopes as they put on 51 for the second wicket.

Cooper scored the winning runs, as the Dutch booked their trip to Australia with the best part of five overs to spare.