Netherlands claim vital victory

Netherlands 287 and 343 (Zuiderent 149*, ten Doeschate 146, Arshad Ali 4-99) beat UAE 289 and 277 (Tauqir 64, Fernandes 56, Sarwar 54*, Schiferli 3-47) by 64 runs
Scorecard

Netherlands overcame some stubborn lower-order resistance from UAE to complete a 64-run win in Sharjah, which keeps them in with a chance of reaching the final with two matches left. The task appeared relatively straightforward for the visitors after they had reduced UAE to 89 for 6 chasing 342, but a stand of 119 between Nizel Fernandes and Mohammad Tauqir kept them waiting well into the final session.

After Netherlands failed to add to their overnight score - leaving Bas Zuiderent unbeaten on 149 - Edgar Schiferli, who claimed five in the first innings, struck on the opening delivery of the chase. Wickets fell regularly and when Peter Borren claimed two in quick succession the UAE were in deep trouble.

However, Fernandes and Tauqir got their heads down while also managing to keep the scoreboard ticking. The pressure was growing for Netherlands as Jeroen Smits rotated his bowling options. The breakthrough, though, came from the field as Fernandes was run out. Tauqir fell shortly afterwards, trapped lbw for a fighting 64 off 115 balls.

Still, UAE refused to give in as Shoaib Sarwar put bat to ball in effective style with an unbeaten 55-ball 54. The final two batsmen hung around with him, but the end came when Schiferli completed an outstanding match with his eighth wicket as he trapped Fahad Alhashmi in front.

Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	Aban	Pts	Quotient	For	Against
Namibia	5	5	0	0	0	0	82	1.256	2390/83	2246/98
Kenya	4	3	1	0	0	0	66	1.263	1822/63	1832/80
Ireland	3	2	0	0	1	0	49	2.408	1535/26	1226/50
Netherlands	5	3	2	0	0	0	48	0.968	2470/88	2377/82
Scotland	4	1	1	0	2	0	32	1.003	1117/40	1392/50
U.A.E.	7	1	5	0	1	0	29	0.787	3024/124	3129/101
Canada	4	1	3	0	0	0	26	0.981	2085/69	1909/62
Bermuda	4	0	4	0	0	0	6	0.521	1657/80	1989/50