Mustafa, Shahzad star as UAE take 2−0 lead over Netherlands
AMSTELVEEN: The UAE took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match T20I series against Netherlands in Amstelveen, thanks to a threewicket haul by Rohan Mustafa and a 59-run fourth-wicket stand between Rameez Shahzad (49) and Muhammad Usman (34).
Despite winning their first match while batting first, the UAE chose to chase at the toss and were rewarded instantly.
Netherlands opener Stephan Myburgh was out in the day’s first over after pacer Mohammad Naveed rattled his stumps. Sultan Ahmed and Zahoor Khan chipped in with wickets, too, as Netherlands’ innings progressed but it was Mustafa’s three-for in the middle overs that dismantled the hosts.
After Ben Cooper’s dismissal for 40 in the 12th over, Mustafa removed Pieter Seelaar (34), Scott Edwards and Sebastiaan Braat in quick succession.
Two run-outs didn’t help Netherlands’ cause either with Saqib Zulfikar and Sikander Zulfiqar falling after getting starts. Eventually Netherlands crawled to 136 for 9 in their 20 overs.
In their chase, UAE lost Mustafa in the second over, but a 27-run second-wicket stand, followed by a 25-run third-wicket partnership provided some stability to their batting. Then the half-century stand between Shahzad and Usman brought UAE closer to victory. By the time Shahzad was out in the 17th over, UAE needed 30 runs in 19 balls, and the remaining runs were accumulated by Usman and the unbeaten duo of Mohammad Boota (11 not out) and Waheed Ahmed (2 not out).
BRIEF SCORES: UAE 140 for 5 (Shahzad 49, Usman 34) beat Netherlands 136 for 9 (Cooper 46, Seelaar 34, Mustafa 3-27, Zahoor 2-20) by five wickets