In the first One Day International (ODI) of the West Indies tour of the United Arab Emirates, the West Indies cricket team emerged victorious, defeating UAE by seven wickets with 88 balls to spare. Brandon King’s outstanding century and a commendable bowling performance by Keemo Paul played pivotal roles in securing the win for the visitors.
The match took place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on June 4, 2023. West Indies captain Shai Hope, along with newly appointed head coach Daren Sammy, led the team in what marked the beginning of a new era for West Indies cricket. The victory provided a much-needed boost to the team’s morale as they prepare for the upcoming ODI World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe later this month.
Having won the toss, UAE elected to bat first. However, they faced an early setback as West Indies bowlers struck early, dismissing both openers within the first three overs. Keemo Paul, playing his first ODI in nearly a year, made an immediate impact by removing UAE captain Muhammad Waseem for a duck. Dominic Drakes, making his ODI debut, also impressed by taking his maiden wicket, breaking through the defense of Aryansh Sharma.
Teenage debutant Ali Naseer showed great determination and resilience as he played a crucial innings for UAE. Naseer’s fighting fifty helped stabilize the innings after the middle-order collapse. Vriitya Aravind supported Naseer with a patient knock of 40 runs off 70 balls, contributing to a partnership of 31 runs with Rameez Shahzad. Unfortunately, Shahzad had to retire hurt in the 12th over after being struck on the helmet by a delivery from Odean Smith.
Aravind continued to anchor the innings and built a partnership of 44 runs with Asif Khan for the fourth wicket. However, he was eventually dismissed by leg-spinner Yannic Cariah after nicking the ball to the wicketkeeper. With this knock, Aravind became UAE’s highest run-scorer in ODIs.
UAE managed to post a total of 202 runs on the scoreboard, thanks to Naseer’s gritty innings and contributions from the lower order. Keemo Paul was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, finishing with figures of 3 for 34.
Chasing a target of 203, West Indies started their innings confidently, scoring at a steady rate. Despite losing opener Johnson Charles early for 24, Brandon King and Shamarh Brooks took charge of the innings and built a crucial partnership. King, who was recently appointed as the vice-captain, showcased his batting prowess by scoring a magnificent century.
King’s maiden ODI hundred came off 107 deliveries and included 12 fours and four sixes. One of the highlights of his innings was the three clean sixes he hit against leg-spinner Karthik Meiyyappan in the 34th over. Alongside Keacy Carty, King added 54 runs, with 47 of them coming from King’s bat. Shamarh Brooks also made a valuable contribution with a solid knock of 44 runs off 58 deliveries.
Despite facing challenging pitch conditions and humid weather, West Indies maintained a good run rate throughout the innings. Captain Shai Hope provided the finishing touches by hitting two consecutive sixes off Meiyappan in the 36th over, securing a comprehensive victory for his team.
The victory showcased the depth and talent within the West Indies squad. Brandon King’s century and Keemo Paul’s disciplined bowling were the standout performances of the match.