WELLINGTON, New Zealand // Shaiman Anwar made 109 as top seeds the United Arab Emirates stamped their mark on the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifying tournament with a 102-run win over Nepal in Monday’s opening round.
Anwar, who knocked eight sixes and another eight boundaries, and Swapnil Patil (74), helped UAE to 297 for 8 batting first before dismissing Nepal for 195 in 48.1 overs with Kamran Shazad taking 3 for 46.
Opener Salman Faris also chipped in 35 for the Emirates, and each of Manjula Guruge, Khurram Khan (who also chipped in a tidy 21 runs from 21 balls) and Amjad Javed (16 from 16) took a pair of wickets.
Rohan Mustafa took only a single wicket, but held Nepal to just 19 runs in 8.1 overs, as well.
Nepal were led by Sharad Vesawkar’s 54 wit hthe bat, with Basat Regmi taking 3 for 43 with the ball.
Second seeded Netherlands also won impressively, beating Uganda by seven wickets. After a 76-run opening partnership, Uganda was bowled out for 152 as the Netherlands reached their winning target in 30.1 overs with Wesley Barresi making 61 not out and Peter Borren adding an even 50.
Hong Kong beat Scotland by 17 runs in the most thrilling match of the opening day, making 263 for 7 and bowling out Scotland, coached by England’s Paul Collingwood, for 246. Irfan Ahmed, with 75, top-scored for Hong Kong while Nadeem Ahmed took four wickets for 37. The Scots fell despite 118 from Preston Mommsen.
Papua New Guinea upset Kenya by 8 wickets in the opening day’s other match. Collins Obuya made 106 in Kenya’s 249 for 9 but PNG chased down the total in 42.5 overs with Assad Vala making 105 not out and Lega Siaka 103.
Raymond Haoda also took four wickets for 50 in the first innings for PNG.
The tournament involves 10 of the International Cricket Council’s associate or affiliate teams, divided into two groups of five. The top three teams from each group progress to a Super Six round and the two finalists qualify for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, joining Ireland, Afghanistan and the ICC’s 10 full members.
