Australia lose again to UAE

The golden oldies of the tournament, the Aussies, were looking for their first win in the tournament after having lost all the four matches so far. They lost to United Arab Emirates by 26 runs in the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Cricket Sixes 2001, being played at the Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong, on Sunday. Australia who had almost snubbed the organisers by sending a bunch of ageing players, finished last in the tournament and rightly so. UAE had stunned Australia in their first match yesterday, finished at number seven.

UAE won the toss and decided to bat first. Skipper Saeed-al-Saffar was the only batsman to be dismissed, bowled by David Hookes. al-Saffar made 21 off seven deliveries, hitting two sixes and two boundaries. Kaif Gaury has been in tremendous form in the tournament and he carried on in the same vein to make 36* (retired not out) off 13 balls, hitting seven boundaries and a six. Miraj Khaliq remained unbeaten on 15 and Asim Saeed on one. UAE made 81/1 in their five overs. McDermott (1-0-13-0) and Greg Matthews (1-0-11-0) bowled well for the Aussies.

Australia had their share of luck; Greg Matthews was dropped off the very first ball. Matthews made UAE pay for it dearly, smashing the ball all over the park for three boundaries. A terrible mix-up off the last ball saw Moody go back to the pavilion, run out. Australia scored 15 runs off the first over bowled by Gaury.

Matthews (14) perished, caught at the deep off the bowling of Yogesh Mistry. The second over (1-0-5-1) bowled by mistry put the pressure right back on the Aussies, which resulted in the wicket of David Hookes (9 off 7 balls) caught in the deep by Khaliq off Nadeem (1-0-7-1). Aussies were 29/3 after three overs. Kim Hughes played some rousing shots, a four and a six off Asim Saeed. Hughes (10) was caught in the deep and Saeed finished the over (1-0-15-1).

Dean Jones smacked a mighty six over long off, but then it was all too late, and Australia finished with 55/5 off five overs. Jones remained unbeaten on 18 off 10 balls.