The UAE's tour of Bermuda could not have gone much better after they cruised to their third win on tour of the North Atlantic island, courtesy of a blistering performance from Amjad Javed, on Sunday evening. Coming in at No 7, Javed smashed five sixes and seven fours in his unbeaten, 61-ball knock of 89 as the UAE posted 302 for five after choosing to bat first. Ahmed Raza, the left-arm spinner, then bagged three for 29 to take his tally of victims on the tour to 14 as Bermuda were bowled out for 168.
The Emirates defeated Bermuda by nine wickets on Wednesday in a four-day game to earn a place in the ICC Intercontinental Shield final. They followed it up with a comprehensive 167-run win in the first one-dayer on Saturday. The team's run of form is boosting morale ahead of the more stern challenges to come, according to Mohammed Lokhandwala, the team manager, starting with the Intercontinental Shield final that will be played in Dubai from November 25 and the ICC World Cricket League Division Two, in March next year.
"We will go into the game [the Intercontinental Shield final] with a lot of confidence. We will also be playing on our own turf, which will be an advantage," he said during a telephone interview from Bermuda. "We are missing at least three to four players [in Bermuda]. Mohammed Tauqir's father-in-law passed away. He is a damn good cricketer, especially in the four-day format. "Then Nayeemuddin [Aslam]could not come because he is changing jobs.
"There are a couple of other boys who have gone on leave for their weddings, or they did no get permission from their employers to travel. "When they become available, the team will become much stronger," he added. The UAE wrap up the tour with two Twenty20 internationals against Bermuda. arizvi@thenational.ae
