United Arab Emirates registered a 15 run win over Afghanistan in the first game in the two-match 50-over Associate and Affiliate League encounter on Monday at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.In a day-night match, UAE batted first and was bowled out for 198 in 44.3 overs. The key contributors to the UAE score initially was opener Faizan Asif (36) and one-drop Shaiman Anwar (42).Shaiman added crucial 79 runs for the third wicket with skipper Khurram Khan (53: 48b, 5x4, 1x6). UAE reached 131 for two in the 24th over, and looked set for a big score.But a collapse followed as the rest of the innings faltered in the face of some disciplined bowling by Karim Sadiq (3-32) and Dawlat Zadran (3-24).UAE could not post a big score but it still had something to defend.In its reply, Afghanistan lost early wickets and quickly slipped to 34 for three. It required a 59 run fifth wicket stand between Mohammad Nabi (39) and Gulbodin Naib (43) to revive the chase. But it was not to be.The lower-order offered a brief resistance when Hamid Hassan swung his bat for a brisk 22. But all that was too little too late. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals and eventually UAE ran home winners.Sharif Asadullak (2-19), Ahmed Raza (2-33), skipper Khurram Khan (4-25) and Arshad Ali (2-39) shared the wickets amongst themselves.The second and final game between the two sides will be played on Wednesday, also at Sharjah and will again be a day-night fixture.
