Australia consign UAE to Sixes wooden spoon

It was nostalgia time as Australia took on UAE in the Sixes wooden spoon clash at the Kowloon Cricket Club on Sunday. The two teams had met in the playoff for the same two positions in 2001 too. Then, UAE had won by 26 runs. The contest one year on was closer with Australia at long last ending a 11-match losing streak in the tournament when Shaun Young flicked a six off the penultimate ball of the match.

The hero of the Australian win was opener Dene Hills. The 32-year-old Tasmanian is reckoned by many to one of the finest left-handers to have graced the Australian domestic circuit. Known to be a steady accumulator of runs, Hills has, though, proved that he is at home in the Sixes format too. The most prolific batsman in this year's tournament made 31 off 10 balls, before retiring for the fifth time in six innings; he remained unbeaten in his only other knock.

Hills' contribution at the top of the order meant that Australia were off to a healthy start, chasing 76-2. With Young also making a blistering 23 off eight balls, Craig McDermott's men were finally able to eke out a consolation win.

Earlier, Arshad Ali, the other consistent batsman of the tournament, made 36 off 12 balls before retiring to guide UAE to fighting 76-2. It, though, proved to be a total that his side could not defend.