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Abu Dhabi: Rohan Mustafa, the UAE captain, scored 109 and followed it up with returns of 5 for 25 as Papua New Guinea went down by 103 runs in the third and final One-Day International between the two sides at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday
Mustafa's century was the brightest spark in the UAE innings as it reached 251 for 9 in its 50 overs after winning the toss and batting first. PNG started the chase well with a first-wicket stand of 76 runs, but lost its way to collapse for 148 in 35.2 overs.
UAE got off to an excellent start with Mustafa and Mohammed Qasim sharing a 101-run partnership for the opening wicket, before Qasim (33) was dismissed by Sese Bau, the medium pacer, who accounted for Shaiman Anwar soon after with the total on 117.
Rameez Shahzad then joined his captain and they stitched a 69-run partnership together to take the game forward, before Shahzad was bowled by Mahuru Dai, the leg-spinner, for 37.
Mustafa, who had been scoring at a fair clip all along, got to his century before becoming the fourth man out with the total on 208. His 125-ball innings included seven fours and a six. Once he fell, in the 43rd over, UAE didn’t have much left to offer, and the last six wickets fell for the addition of just 42 more runs.
Assad Vala, the off-spinner, was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 30, while Sese and John Reva, the medium pacer, picked up two wickets apiece.
In PNG’s reply, Tony Ura (40) and Vani Morea (36) began well, but it all went downhill once Ura was caught behind off Ahmed Raza, the left-arm spinner, in the 15th over.
From 76 for no loss to 148 all out was a matter of 21 overs, and it started immediately after Ura fell. Morea went next, followed by Lega Siaka, Dogodo Bau and Sese, and PNG was 92 for 5 with little batting left.
There was a brief resistance led by Vala (18) and Mahuru Dai (28), but it only delayed the inevitable before Mustafa fittingly picked up the last wicket to cap an excellent day.
Brief scores
United Arab Emirates - 251 for 9 (Mustafa 109, Vala 3-30)
Papua New Guinea - 148 (Mustafa 5-25)
Result - United Arab Emirates won by 103 runs
