UAE defend submissive batting effort

Mar 12, 2015 - 10:09 AM United Arab Emirates have defended their second straight submissive batting approach at the World Cup, having set a target of simply seeing out 50 overs.

South Africa crushed the winless associate nation by 146 runs in Wellington on Thursday, never being threatened after piling on 6-341.

UAE were 15 balls short of batting out 50 overs when their stodgy response ended at 195.

It was the same in Napier last week when they batted out their full allotment in reaching 8-210 following Pakistan's 6-339.

Captain Mohammad Tauqir says running down the Proteas' score never entered their mind.

"Playing 50 overs against the South African bowling attack gives a lot of confidence to our batters. We need to play 50 overs," he said.

"We have played 50 overs against Pakistan. We have almost played 50 against South Africa. These are positive signs for us."

Tauqir's comments won't impress those pushing to keep second-tier nations involved at the World Cup.

He says most of his amateur teammates were facing the likes of world class quicks Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel for the first time and hopes the UAE effort made his country's supporters proud.

"This was the best we could have done. We batted out the 50 overs, but the bowlers were too good for us."

Tauqir was pleased with UAE's bowling and fielding for restricting the Proteas to a score below 400, something the West Indies and Ireland couldn't achieve.

He believes they can "put up a better show" against the West Indies in their final game in Napier on Sunday.

They will be without seamer Fahad Alhashmi, who couldn't bat on Thursday after fracturing his leg when falling awkwardly at the bowling crease.

Source: AAP