United Arab Emirates vs West Indies 1st ODI Match Commentary: West Indies tour of UAE, 2023

1.08am  Right then, that's all from the first ODI. It is West Indies who have emerged victorious and have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. It was a perfect game for the visitors and they will look to seal the series with a win in the second ODI. On the other hand, United Arab Emirates have a lot to ponder as they look to force a series decider. The second ODI will take place at the same venue on Tuesday, 06th June. The first ball will be bowled at 6.00 pm IST (12.30 pm GMT). Do join us in advance for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

1.06am  Brandon King is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant knock of 112 runs from 112 balls. West Indies skipper Shai Hope takes the award on his behalf as King is suffering from cramps after his first ODI century.

1.05am  Shai Hope, the captain of West Indies, says that all bowlers bowled well and they stuck to their plans. Adds that he was happy with the execution. On Dominic Drakes' ODI debut, he says that he is happy to see him in West Indies colours. Shares that there were not too many devils in the surface and credits his bowlers for restricting United Arab Emirates to a low total. On Brandon King, he says that he is an exceptional player and is happy to see him kicking on now.

1.03am  Muhammad Waseem, the skipper of United Arab Emirates, says that Ali Naseer played very well but they were short with the bat and that cost them the game. He added that Aayan Khan bowled well but credited Brandon King for playing well. Mentions that they will take positives from this game and would try to do well in the next game.

12.59am  Time for the presentations...

12.59am  Earlier in the game, after United Arab Emirates won the toss and opted to put runs on the board, they lost both openers cheaply. To make matters worse for them, Rameez Shahzad was forced to be retired hurt after receiving a blow on the helmet. Vriitya Aravind stood strong and forged a solid recovery with Asif Khan. However, Aravind's departure meant the hosts lost their way in the innings. Playing in his maiden ODI game, Ali Naseer showed immense composure and took his side to a respectable total before departing. For West Indies, debutant Keemo Paul was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets while Dominic Drakes, Odean Smith and Yannic Cariah accounted for two wickets each.

12.53am  With not a big total to defend, United Arab Emirates were behind the eight ball right from the first ball in their target defence. They needed early inroads to have any chance of defending this total. Things did not go according to the plan for them as both pacers and spinners could not make a mark early in the innings. To be honest, they had no answers to the brilliance of that man, Brandon King. Despite the loss, 17-year-old Aayan Khan's figures of 1 for 36 from his ten overs was a big plus for the hosts. Muhammad Waseem and Co. will need to return to the drawing board and put up a better show in the second ODI.

12.48am  West Indies have absolutely steamrolled their way to victory in this first ODI! It has been the Brandon King show that has enabled them to cruise home with more than 14 overs to spare. In their pursuit of 203 runs, West Indies were off to a steady start courtesy of the opening pair. After the departure of his opening partner, Brandon King joined hands with Shamarh Brooks and stitched a 91-run stand to put West Indies in the driver's seat. King started dealing in boundaries as he progressed in his innings and stroked his maiden ODI hundred. Towards the end, Shai Hope provided the finishing touches by striking two consecutive sixes and saw West Indies home.

12.43am  Shai Hope walks out to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Oh, King is gone and Rohan Mustafa has something to show for his efforts today. End of an outstanding knock from King though and he would like to build on this knock in the coming future. Shortish and quicker, around off. King tries to late-cut it but gets an outside edge and the keeper, Aryansh Sharma takes a sharp catch.
Brandon King c A Sharma b R Mustafa 112 (112b 12x4 4x6)

12.37am  Drinks break! West Indies are absolutely cruising along in the run chase here. Brandon King has been a treat to watch and it is only a matter of time before the visitors score the remaining 15 runs. As far as United Arab Emirates are concerned, it is only a matter of delaying the inevitable.

12.12am  Keacy Carty is the next man in.

OUT! LBW! Aayan Khan finally gets his reward for disciplined bowling! Pushed through quicker, fuller on middle, quicker as well, Shamarh Brooks gets down to sweep but fails to connect. Gets trapped right in front of the stumps and the umpire has no hesitation in raising the finger. Brooks departs six runs short of his fifty.
Shamarh Brooks lbw A Khan 44 (58b 5x4 0x6)

12.06am  Zahoor Khan is back into the attack. Three overs for 13 runs and a wicket so far.

11.25pm  Drinks break! West Indies are going along rather nicely in their pursuit of 203 runs. With 125 runs more needed for victory, they can afford to take their time to chase down this total. As far as United Arab Emirates are concerned, they have toiled hard but have only one wicket to show for their efforts. They need a couple of quick wickets to claw their way back into the game.

11.00pm  End of Powerplay 2. Now four fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle until the 40th over.

10.53pm  Shamarh Brooks walks out at number 3!

OUT! TIMBER! The move to bring on Zahoor Khan works wonders for United Arab Emirates! Zahoor goes full this time and honing in at the stumps, Johnson Charles clears his front leg to go down the ground. He does not account for the inward movement and pays the price. The ball sneaks past the inside edge of his bat and knocks back the leg stump. Zahoor Khan is delighted and so he should be.
Johnson Charles b Z Khan 24 (19b 4x4 1x6)

10.19pm  Ali Naseer to share the new ball with Junaid Siddique.

10.14pm  We are all set for the run-chase! United Arab Emirates players are out there in the middle. Johnson Charles and Brandon King are the openers for West Indies. Junaid Siddique to start the proceedings with the ball. Here we go...

10.13pm  ... THE RUN CHASE …

10.00pm  Right then, West Indies need 203 runs to take a 1-0 lead in this series and we can expect them to take an aggressive route in this run-chase. The pitch though is not easy to bat on and if UAE can find early breakthroughs, they can put pressure on West Indies who are not known to be great against spinners. Stay tuned for the run-chase!

9.59pm  Vriitya Aravind is in for a chat. He says that they had a good partnership and adds that Ali Naseer played well. Mentions that it is not the easiest wicket to bat on and says that they are happy with the total. Reckons that West Indies bowled and fielded well. Feels that they have good varieties in the bowling attack. Shares that he was annoyed after he got out but is happy to get some runs on the board. Ends by saying that they have a good environment to perform.

9.57pm  United Arab Emirates lacked intent throughout the innings. They lost two wickets early and then just went into the shell. Vriitya Aravind played a decent knock of 40 but his wicket triggered a collapse and the UAE middle order just could not find ways to score runs in the middle overs. The debutant, Ali Naseer though mixed caution with aggression beautifully and scored a fifty to take his side to a score where they can at least now fight in the second half of this game.

9.52pm  West Indies bowled with a lot of discipline and the pacers should be credited for the way they bowled on a pitch that had help for the spinners. Both Keemo Paul and Dominic Drakes got a wicket each with the new ball and then the spin duo of Roston Chase and Yannic Cariah just choked UAE's middle order. Yannic Cariah with his crafty leg spin was almost impossible to play at times and started the collapse as UAE crumbled from 100-2 to 145-7. Cariah got two while Chase got one. Keemo Paul and Odean Smith then cleaned up the tail that was starting to frustrate West Indies and overall, it was a comprehensive bowling effort.

9.48pm  United Arab Emirates have managed to cross the 200-run mark but Windies would be happy with their bowling effort. UAE are definitely short of the par score and they need to bowl well here to take a lead in this series. Also, United Arab Emirates missed out on the 17 balls and that would have added some crucial 10-15 runs which might have given them a bit of cushion. Overall, West Indies are favourites to notch up a win going into this break.

OUT! TIMBER! United Arab Emirates have been bowled out for 202! Keemo Paul goes full and bowls it on off, Karthik Meiyappan walks across in the crease to scoop it over short fine leg. He moves across way too much and fails to connect with the ball. The ball knocks back the off stump to bring an end to United Arab Emirates' innings with the bat. Keemo Paul finishes with three wickets on his ODI debut.
Karthik Meiyappan b K Paul 11 (25b 1x4 0x6)

9.44pm  Zahoor Khan is the last man in.

OUT! TAKEN! Junaid Siddique departs now and the end is near for United Arab Emirates! Goes fuller and angling in, around leg, Junaid Siddique clears his front leg and swats across the line. Gets it from the inner half of the bat and holes out to mid-wicket. Brandon King there times the jump to perfection and takes a good catch moving to his right. Odean Smith has now two wickets to his name.
Junaid Siddique c B King b O Smith 8 (5b 0x4 1x6)

9.38pm  Junaid Siddique is the next man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Keemo Paul has the last laugh and he gets rid of Ali Naseer! Bowls the leg cutter from 'round the wicket, on a fuller length, outside off, Ali Naseer reaches out to the delivery and looks to go down the ground. Gets undone by the slowness of the delivery and holes out to Kevin Sinclair at long off who does the rest. Ali Naseer departs not before playing a fine knock in his maiden ODI game.
Ali Naseer c sub Kevin Sinclair b Keemo Paul 58 (52b 5x4 2x6)

9.12pm  Powerplay 3! Now, five fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the last over.

8.59pm  Karthik Meiyappan is the next batter in.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Another one bites the dust! Odean Smith bends his back and bangs it in short, around leg, Aayan Khan swivels in the crease to pull but gets cramped for room. The ball comes off his gloves and lobs behind the wicket. Shai Hope runs to his left and completes the catch. Odean Smith has his first wicket of the game and United Arab Emirates are now 7 wickets down.
Aayan Khan c S Hope b O Smith 9 (22b 1x4 0x6)

8.36pm  Aayan Khan walks out to the middle now.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Dominic Drakes comes back into the attack and delivers for West Indies! Goes full searching for the swing and bowls it on off and middle. Rohan Mustafa gets on the front foot and presents a straight bat to defend. The ball swings back in and beats Mustafa all ends up. The ball sneaks past the inside edge and crashes onto the stumps. United Arab Emirates slip further as they lose Rohan Mustafa now.
Rohan Mustafa b D Drakes 7 (23b 0x4 0x6)

8.24pm  Drinks break! West Indies are right on top at the moment. They have United Arab Emirates on the ropes courtesy of their disciplined bowling and would want to wrap the innings as quickly as possible. On the other hand, United Arab Emirates were going along nicely but have lost their way ever since the departure of Vriitya Aravind. The onus is now on the experienced Rohan Mustafa to bat with the lower order and get his side to a respectable total.

8.08pm  The debutant Ali Naseer comes in at number 7.

OUT! CAUGHT! Yannic Cariah is turning it on! This is good old classical leg-spin bowling! Nicely tossed up on off. Inviting the batter to press forward and Khan does exactly that. However, the ball turns and takes the outside edge of the blade to hand an easy catch to Brandon King at first slip.
Asif Khan c B King b Y Cariah 27 (41b 2x4 1x6)

8.03pm  Rohan Mustafa is the new man in.

OUT! LBW! So, Rameez Shahzad does not last long in his return. Shai Hope gets a wicket and UAE are now four down. This is an off-break that pitches on off and turns into the right-hander. Shahzad gets across to his right a bit and tries to work it towards the leg side. However, he misses and the ball hits the pad. Shai Hope behind the stumps goes for the appeal straightaway and the bowler joins in late. The umpire though is quick to raise his finger and Windies continue to chip in with wickets.
Rameez Shahzad lbw R Chase 16 (31b 1x4 0x6)

7.56pm  Rameez Shahzad returns to the crease to resume his innings.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Yannic Cariah finally gets a wicket and after beating the batters for the number of times, he gets his much-deserved reward! This is again a nice loopy delivery, outside off. Vriitya Aravind goes for a drive but gets a faint outside edge as Shai Hope behind the stumps takes a sharp catch. Big wicket this, Vriitya Aravind gone after a well-made 40!
Vriitya Aravind c S Hope b Y Cariah 40 (77b 3x4 0x6)

7.12pm  Time for the drinks break! Good start this from West Indies, their opening bowlers got two early wickets and all the bowlers have been pretty tidy so far. The wicket though is not easy to bat on and Vriitya Aravind needs support from the other batters to give UAE a chance going into the second half. An important middle phase of this innings coming up.

7.04pm  Now, Asif Khan seems to be in pain! Kavem Hodge while trying to stop the ball collided with Asif Khan and the batter seem to have hurt his leg. He is now on his feet and good to go after some treatment.

7.01pm  Ouch! Rameez Shahzad is looking in some discomfort and is unable to continue. A blow to the batting team as Rameez Shahzad is retired hurt.

7.01pm  Oh, Rameez Shahzad is walking off the field! Rameez was hit on his helmet in the last over and seems to be struggling here. Good decision to walk off though and Asif Khan walks out to the middle now.

6.54pm  Rameez Shahzad has been hit on his helmet. It is now time for the mandatory Concussion Test. Shahzad gets some treatment and is all set to resume.

6.49pm  End of Powerplay 1. A maximum of four fielders will be allowed outside the 30-yard circle now!

6.43pm  Odean Smith comes on to bowl, replacing Dominic Drakes.

6.33pm  Spin for the first time as Kavem Hodge comes into the attack.

6.22pm  Rameez Shahzad is the new man in.

OUT! TIMBER! First ODI wicket for Dominic Drakes! Drakes continue to bowl from 'round the wicket and lands it on a length, angling into off. Sharma once again tries to punch it through the line but misses the ball completely this time. It knocks over the off pole and UAE have lost both their openers now.
Aryansh Sharma (wk) b D Drakes 5 (5b 1x4 0x6)

6.06pm  It will be the debutant Dominic Drakes to steam in from the other end.

6.02pm  Vriitya Aravind comes in at number 3.

OUT! Knocked him over! Beautiful delivery this from Keemo Paul and he gets rid of UAE skipper in just the second ball of the game. Lands it on a good length again and this time the ball nips back in sharply. Waseem tries to drive it through the line but the ball zips between his bat and pad to knock over the off pole.
Muhammad Waseem (c) b K Paul 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

6.00pm  All in readiness for the game to begin as the two umpires make their way out to the middle. West Indies players stride out to the centre followed by the two United Arab Emirates openers. Muhammad Waseem and Aryansh Sharma will open the innings for United Arab Emirates. Keemo Paul will start with the new ball for West Indies. Off we go...

5.34pm  West Indies (Playing XI) - Johnson Charles, Brandon King, Shamarh Brooks, Shai Hope (C/WK), Keacy Carty, Kavem Hodge (On ODI Debut), Roston Chase, Keemo Paul, Yannic Cariah, Odean Smith, Dominic Drakes (On ODI Debut).

5.34pm  United Arab Emirates (Playing XI) - Muhammad Waseem (C), Aryansh Sharma (WK), Vriitya Aravind, Rameez Shahzad, Asif Khan, Rohan Mustafa, Ali Naseer (On ODI Debut), Aayan Khan, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Zahoor Khan.

5.33pm  TOSS - The coin toss lands in the favour of Muhammad Waseem and United Arab Emirates have opted to BAT first.

5.04pm  The home team, UAE have good blend of youth and experience in their side. Muhammad Waseem and Vriitya Aravind will be key batters for them while the all-round skills of Rohan Mustafa are crucial if they want to upset the Windies here. For the men from the Caribbean, it is about ironing out their flaws and continuing the good work they did in their last ODI series against the Proteas under the leadership of Shai Hope. So, a lot to gain for both teams and expect an exciting encounter. Toss and team news in a bit.

5.02pm  Hello and a very warm welcome, folks! We are all set for a three-match ODI series between the United Arab Emirates and West Indies. We are at the iconic Sharjah Stadium and this is a big opportunity for UAE to show their might in the 50-over format and gain confidence with a good performance in this series. For West Indies, it is an opportunity to try out some new players and they would also like to get some wins under their belt before the all-important World Cup Qualifier. Let’s see how things pan out.