Hurdle hurries UAE with six wickets

Bermuda 98 for 4 (Hemp 21*, Romaine 8*) trail UAE 143 (Ali 18, Hurdle 6-45) by 45 runs
Scorecard

Kevin Hurdle took 6 for 45, his best figures in first-class cricket, to put Bermuda on top of UAE on the first day of their Intercontinental Cup match in Abu Dhabi.

Choosing to bat, UAE began solidly with Gayan Silva and Arshad Ali getting the hosts off to a confident start in their opening stand of 42. It was to be the highest partnership of their innings, with Malachi Jones removing Ali to prompt a middle-order slump. UAE lost Silva to Hurdle and they soon slipped to 89 for 6 when Abdul Rehman was trapped in front by Hurdle for 11.

Hurdle, who showed glimpses of pace for Bermuda in what was an otherwise forgettable series against Kenya, was well supported by Janeiro Tucker (3 for 29), and although the tail offered a bit of resistance, UAE were dismissed for a weak 143.

However, chastened by their batting performance, UAE fought back with the ball. Qasim Zubair removed Azeem Pitcher for 8, and Saqib Ali picked up 2 for 14 as Bermuda lost four wickets before stumps. But a quickfire 43 from Rodney Trott pushed Bermuda up to 98, trailing by just 45 with six wickets in hand.