Burger and co feast on UAE's batting line-up

DUBAI //The UAE need a huge turnaround today after their batting line-up disintegrated and the bowlers were put to the sword on the first day of their Intercontinental Shield final against Namibia yesterday

Kola Burger was Namibia's hero in the morning session, using his left-arm medium pace to deadly effect as the home side were reduced to 14 for four at the ICC Global Cricket Academy ground at Dubai Sports City.

Making good use of swinging conditions and early moisture on a fast, bouncy pitch, Burger tore through the UAE batting line-up to record career-best figures of seven for 38 off 12-and-a-half unchanged overs.

He was ably assisted by Louis Klazinga at the other end. Tall, powerful and determined, Klazinga stayed back of a length on off stump as he softened up the UAE batting order ready for his partner. Klazinga ended with two wickets.

"I think it is always nice to have someone like Klazzy at the other end who kept pushing the batsmen on to the back foot. It gave me an opportunity to bowl nice and full. I just hope we build on this momentum," Burger said.

Only Naeemuddin Aslam offered any real resistance, his 89-minute 38 accounting for almost half of his side's total of 79 all out before he was caught behind.

It had taken 25 overs for the visitors to dispose of the UAE's innings when Burger clean bowled Qasim Zubair immediately after lunch.

After the early run out of Van Schoor, Ewald Steenkamp and Sarel Burger steadied the ship and then built on this promising start.

While the batting Burger played the anchor role, Steenkamp was happy to open his shoulders and chase the strike. Having brought up his half century with a straight drive for four, the 22-year-old Steenkamp became the second batsman to fall, caught behind for 66 off Arshad Ali, the UAE leg-spinner.

Craig Williams, the captain, then took up the attack in spectacular fashion.

In the blink of an eye, Williams was celebrating his 50 shortly after Burger had completed his own half century.

He then hammered 19 runs from the 40th over and 20 off the 52nd. Shortly afterwards, his fourth six, a towering strike over long-on, brought up Williams's century off just 85 balls.

But as play was drawing to a close, the centurion made a bad call on a second run as an accurate and powerful throw by Shoaib Sarwar hit the stumps. He returned to the pavilion with 116 to his name.

Berger, meanwhile, ended the day on 73 not out off 182 balls. His patience, and the length of the Namibian batting card, should mean another long day in the field today for the UAE.

sports@thenational.ae