The UAE have one foot in the Super Six phase of the World Cup Qualifier after beating Netherlands by six wickets at Harare Sports Club.
It was their second win of the competition, after their opening-day win over Papua New Guinea.
It would take an apparently unlikely sequence of results to deprive them a place in the next phase.
Realistically, the Netherlands would have to beat West Indies to stand a chance of finishing above the national team in the five-team group. Even that would be academic if UAE beat Ireland in their final pool match on Monday.
Rohan Mustafa, as he so often does, led the way. The captain took 5-26, his second five-wicket haul in one-day internationals. They were all his own work, too: three were bowled, two lbw. And he affected an, albeit simple, run out.
With a typically thrifty return from Ahmed Raza, who took 1-28 from his 10 overs, the UAE were able to bowl the Dutch out for 176 in the 47th over.
On a slow track, and with a probing Netherlands pace attack, 177 was a tricky chase. But Chirag Suri, the youngest member of the UAE tour party, played a gem of an innings to see them through.
Suri, who is only in the line-up because of an injury to the prolific opener Ashfaq Ahmed, was unbeaten on 78 when victory was secured.
He finished it in style himself, with four over long on.
____________
Read more:
UAE batsman Chirag Suri looks to kick on against Netherlands
Rameez Shahzad and Bas de Leede dream of playing in World Cup like their fathers
[ Hetmyer expects West Indies to keep improving as UAE take 'only positives' from defeat ]
[ Comment: Twin targets for UAE at Cricket World Cup Qualifier ]
____________
