Arshad steadies UAE

United Arab Emirates 361 (Naeemuddin 152, Nsubuga 3-76) and 102 for 2 (Arshad 59*, Saqib 33*) lead Uganda 373 (Sematimba 89, Amjad 4-48) by 90 runs
Scorecard

The United Arab Emirates finished day three of their Intercontinental Shield game against Uganda at Abu Dhabi at 102 for 2 - a 90-run lead - with Arshad Ali and Saqib Ali's unbroken 77-run partnership steadying the innings after early breakthroughs by the Ugandans.

UAE had started their innings with a small deficit after Lawrence Sematimba's 89, with significant contributions from Ronald Ssemanda (41), Benjamin Musoke (40) and Frank Nsubuga (37), had taken Uganda to 373. Uganda's lead could have been even larger, however, had it not been for a stern fightback by UAE's bowlers, led by Amjad Javed, who picked up four wickets. Uganda looked like they had built a solid platform, but they collapsed from the position of 327 for 4, losing four wickets for five runs before Nsubuga's late flourish.

Wickets continued to tumble when UAE came out to bat. Charles Waiswa, the left-arm opening bowler, castled Arfan Haider with only 16 runs on the board to give Uganda a vital early breakthrough. Less than five overs later, Dennis Tabby snuck one past captain Khurram Khan's defences to leave UAE in strife at 25 for 2.

That wicket brought Arshad and Saqib together, and each played a watchful hand in ensuring no further stutters before the close. Arshad struck six boundaries on his way to a seventh first-class fifty, but UAE are not out of danger yet and will be hoping for an extended knock from him tomorrow.