Afghanistan holds out for draw with UAE

UAE set the visitors 363 to win at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium after slumping to 228 all out from 212-5 overnight in its second innings. Swapnil Patil top scored with 79 for UAE but his was the first wicket of the day caught behind by Mohammad Shahzad off Mirwais Ashraf, who ended with 4-20.In reply Afghanistan slipped to 30 for three and it required a steady 49 off 84 balls from opener Javed Ahmadi to stop the slide.Ahmadi and Ashraf (10) added 40 runs for the fourth wicket but the Afghans again collapsed to 96-7.It was then left to Mohammad Nabi (35 not out) to add 35 runs with Samiullah Shenwari (6 not out) in 25.2 overs to stonewall UAEs attempts to force a win. Afghanistan ended 131-7.UAE bowler Arshad Ali took 3-30, finishing with match figures of 9-75. United Arab Emirates scored 462 in its first innings and Afghanistan 328. UAE gets six points for having a first-innings lead.