In the 1st ODI between UAE and West Indies, the visitors registered a comfortable and clinical 7-wicket victory over hosts UAE. Batting first, UAE managed to post only 202 runs on the board.
The West Indies bowlers bowled exceedingly well and skittled the UAE batters. The gulf between the two sides was visible as West Indies dictated the course of the game in most parts of it.
Keemo Paul was the pick of the bowlers as he bagged 3 wickets and conceded only 34 runs in his 7.1 overs at an excellent economy of 4.74. His scalps included UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem, Ali Naseer, and Palaniapan Meiyappan.
For UAE, Ali Nasser top-scored with 58 runs in 52 balls. His innings were packed with 5 fours and 2 sixes and he batted with a strike rate of 111.54.
West Indies didn’t have to break a sweat in their run-chase
Chasing a modest total of 203 runs, West Indies coasted to a 7-wicket victory and it was simply a walk in the park for them. Opener Brandon King was at his personal best as he struck a fluent ton.
His knock of 112 runs in 112 balls was laced with 12 fours and 4 sixes. Several elegant boundaries came from his blazing blade and he played quite well.
Shamarh Brooks scored 44 runs in 58 balls and his cameo too made sure that UAE didn’t have a chance in the game. Rohan Mustafa, Zahoor Khan, and Aayan Afzal Khan were the wicket-takers for UAE but it just wasn’t enough.
Brandon King deservedly won the Player of the Match award for his scintillating knock that was oozing with class and flamboyance. His knock was the standout feature in the match and helped the visitors register a win in the 1st ODI of this 3-match ODI series.
The 2nd ODI between the two nations will be taking place on 6th June 2023 and is slated to kick-start from 6:00 PM (IST). It will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
UAE would be hoping to crawl back into the ODI series by defeating the 2-time ICC ODI World Cup winners and subsequently level the series.
Squads
UAE
Muhammad Waseem (c), Vriitya Aravind, Basil Hameed, Ethan D’Souza, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Jonathan Figy, Muhammad Jawadullah, Aayan Afzal Khan, Asif Khan, Matiullah Khan, Zahoor Khan, Karthik Meiyappan, Rohan Mustafa, Ali Naseer, Fahad Nawaz, Rameez Shahzad, Junaid Siddique, Lovepreet Singh, Aryansh Sharma, Sanchit Sharma, Adhitya Shetty, Ansh Tandon.
West Indies
Shai Hope (c), Brandon King (vc), Alick Athanaze, Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Dominic Drakes, Kavem Hodge, Akeem Jordan, Kevin Sinclair, Keemo Paul, Raymon Reifer, Odean Smith, Johnson Charles.
Also read: WTC Finals IND vs AUS 2023: 3 Reasons Why Mohammad Shami Can Have A Good Game
