United Arab Emirates (UAE) made a spirited reply to West Indies 357-4, making 297-6 in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.
UAE slipped to 69-3 in the 17th over and a heavy defeat seemed on the card. However, Rameez Shahzad and Shaiman Anwar posted 144 for the fourth wicket, and Shahzad and Adnan Mufti added 80 for the sixth wicket to keep the West Indies bowlers at bay.
Shahzad was unbeaten on 112 when the overs finished, while Anwar made 64 and Mufti 45 off 36 balls. It must be a worry for the West Indies that UAE lost just six wickets, given the Caribbean side played five specialist bowlers.
Skipper Jason Holder picked up 5-53, as the West Indies won by 60 runs.
Earlier, Chris Gayle’s 23rd ODI ton and Shimron Hetmyer’s maiden hundred powered West Indies to 357-4 from 50 overs.
Gayle cracked 123 off 91 balls, an innings that included 11 sixes and seven fours, while Hetmyer cracked 127 off 93 deliveries, with 14 fours and four sixes.
After Gayle and Evin Lewis (31) added 88 for the first wicket, Hetmyer and Gayle shared 103 for the second wicket to lay the foundation for the huge total.
Shai Hope struck three sixes in 35 off 27 balls to ensure the Caribbean side end on a high.
