UAE 254 for 8 dec and 194 for 9 (Kashif Khan 56, Bhatti 5-43) drew with Canada 337 for 6 dec and 253 for 8 dec (Dhaniram 53, Zahid Shah 4-53) – Canada progresses to the final on points

Umar Bhatti blew United Arab Emirates away with 5 for 43 in the final session to reduce them to 194 for 9 after they had been set a very tempting 337 in five hours on the last day of the ICC Intercontinental Cup semi-final at Sharjah.

UAE failed to mount a realistic challenge after Syed Maqsood, who scored a hundred yesterday, was caught behind off Bhatti's left-arm medium-pace. They needed over 200 in the final session to win, or, if the match was drawn, to total at least more than 250 with fewer than three wickets down and 25 more for every further wicket lost.

Although 200 in a session is a challenging task on any third-day pitch, that's exactly what happened in the morning and was what gave UAE hope. Kashif Khan, one of their openers, was out shortly after lunch for 56, and he had carried the quick-scoring torch from two of his opponents. While Ian Billcliff held up one end for Canada with a tidy 63, first Sunil Dhaniram then Austin Codrington went after the UAE bowling. The declaration came with two wickets remaining, which deprived UAE of a bowling bonus point that helped make the subsequent run-chase more difficult.

Saturday is a rest day before the ICC Intercontinental Cup final takes place at Sharjah from Sunday.

Canada 337 for 6 dec and 132 for 5 (Zahid Shah 4-40) lead United Arab Emirates 254 for 8 dec (Syed Maqsood 100*, Arshad Ali 57, Bhatti 3-44, Dhaniram 3-48) by 215 runs

United Arab Emirates have fought back tenaciously on the second day of three against Canada at Sharjah. They declared 83 runs behind and took five wickets before the close, by which time Canada had extended their lead to 215.

Syed Maqsood led the charge towards Canada's 336 after reaching his hundred in just over three hours with 15 fours and a six. He monopolised the scoring to the extent that only 41 were contributed by others while he was at the crease. Mohammad Tauqir declared as soon as Syed got to three figures. Earlier, Arshad Ali had laid the foundations of the innings, plodding his way to a half-century before falling to the slow left-arm of the former Guyana player Sunil Dhaniram. Before the close, Zahid Shah, who has played domestic cricket in Pakistan, claimed four wickets as Canada subsided to 132 for 5.

But in the event of a draw, Canada are the likeliest to reach the final. UAE would progress if Canada were dismissed for less than 275 and they reached at least 125, and lost no wickets

A commanding century from Zubin Sukhari put Canada in control of its ICC Intercontinental Cup semi-final against the United Arab Emirates.

Canada won the toss and elected to bat with openers Zubin Sukhari and Ashif Mulla got Canada getting off to a good start until Ali Asad got through the defences of Mulla (11).

This brought Don Maxwell to the wicket and together with Sukhari they punished some inconsistent bowling from the UAE team. Aggressive from the start, Maxwell was severe on the bowling of Zahid Shah and Muhammad Tauqir in particular so that by lunch they had built a 112-run partnership to take the total to 157-1 with Sukhari on 68 and Maxwell on 65. 

After lunch Canada continued to dominate, Maxwell was quick to pick up on anything short before eventually falling to Asad Ali for 88 (116 balls, including 8 fours and four sixes) which brought captain Ian Billcliff to the wicket.

The aggressive tone and good run rate continued, with Sukhari moving to an excellent 100 and Billcliff eventually falling to leg spinner Arshad Ali for 44. At tea Canada was 289-3.

Canada progressed to 300 runs (the score at which maximum batting points are awarded) with only three wickets down, but lost three quick wickets including that of Sukahari for an accomplished 139 of 218 balls (303 mins with 18 fours) before declaring on 337-6 after 81 overs.

In reply, the UAE got off to a slow start and reached 74-2 at stumps losing first Naeemuddin Aslam (19) and then Kashif Khan to a loose shot in the penultimate over.

United Arab Emirates 70 for 2 trail Canada 337 for 6 dec (Surkari 139, Maxwell 88, Ali Asad 4-59) by 267 runs
Points: Canada - 6 batting , 1 bowling; UAE - 1 batting, 3 bowling