UAE cruise to win over Uganda again

It was a new format, but the outcome was the same with United Arab Emirates (UAE) maintaining their superiority over Uganda, winning the first Twenty20 in Dubai on Tuesday by eight wickets.

Uganda rebounded from the early loss of captain Akbar Baig (3) thanks to experienced pair Roger Mukasa and Frank Nsubuga who put on 55 in eight overs before Mukasa (29 from 29 balls) was bowled by Fayyaz Ahmed leaving Uganda at 58 for 2.

Ahmed, the Gujarat-born slow left-armer, took the key top-order wickets of Mukasa, Arthur Kyobe and Frank Nsubuga to return 3 for 18 from his four overs. Veteran allrounder Benjamin Musoke chipped in with a breezy 22 from 16 balls which included two fours but received little support as Uganda finished on 119 for seven.

There was a brief hiccup in the UAE reply when young Ugandan fast bowler, Dennis Tabby, removed openers, Mohammad Iqbal and Arfan Haider (both for 11), reducing UAE to 24 for 2.

Haider's innings set the tone for the rest of his team; he hit a six and a four before he was dismissed. Saqib Ali and Khurram Khan continued in kind, smashing 96 runs in 12.1 overs to ease UAE home with 4.1 overs to spare. Along the way, Saqib struck three fours and a six while Khurram hit five fours.

The final game between the teams is a Twenty20 on Wednesday.