The United Arab Emirates have deservedly won the final of the Asian Cricket Council Trophy with a three wicket win in Sharjah.

In what their captain, Saeed Al Saffar, described as "a victory which means everything to UAE cricket" the host nation overtook Hong Kong's 186 all out with six overs to spare.

The win was sealed in emphatic style with young all-rounder Miraj Khaliq finishing the match with three sixes off off-spinner Alex French. Saeed hailed Miraj as a player the UAE will base its national team around.

It was a match which the UAE always seemed to have under control, but until about the 40th over, they couldn't quite break free.

Hong Kong were hit by injuries before the match with Brew, one of the team's main wicket-takers, unable to bowl due to a side strain, and all-rounder Roy Lamsam out due to back problems. Lamsam was replaced by the experienced Mark Eames.

Good UAE bowling, the batting conditions and a spate of run-outs were the major influences on the size of the Hong Kong total.

Hong Kong won the toss and chose to bat, confident they had the batsmen to set a big target. They were soon in trouble when two of their pivotal batsmen, Saleem Malik and Stewart Brew, were among the first three wickets to fall. After 15 overs, Hong Kong were 38-3.

They were contained by restrictive bowling from the UAE seamers, who received assistance from the cloud cover early on. "They bowled tighter than any side we have faced," Hong Kong captain, Stewart Brew said.

The openers, Mark Eames and Saleem Malik, began positively despite the difficult wicket, with Malik hitting medium pacer Asim Saeed for four in the second over. Some chances ensued, until Eames (3) was caught at point by Kashif Khan off a rising ball from Asim Saeed in the fourth over. Asim bowled with pace and the Eames wicket was typical of the height he was getting.

Saleem (8) followed two overs later to a brilliant catch from Kashif off Asim in the covers. Hong Kong's two best batsmen, Brew and Rahul Sharma, were now at the crease and began a period of consolidation.

The first 10 runs of the partnership of 16 came from 37 balls, against continued good bowling from the UAE medium pacers. During this phase, the run rate dropped from 3.3 to 2.7 runs per over.

Brew (11) appeared to be coping with the conditions when he pulled a ball from Asim to Jabbar at mid-on for a regulation catch. Hong Kong 38 for 3. Sharma and the wicket-keeper/batsman Mark Davies then combined for a 44-run partnership in which Sharma played the senior role, playing patiently, waiting for the loose delivery.

Davies, who had faced 33 balls for his 14 was the fourth wicket to fall on 81 when he played through the line to be caught by Nasir Siddiqui at backward square leg off Saeed Al Saffar.

Sharma was steadily accelerating, and guiding Hong Kong towards a potential total around the 200 mark when a disastrous series of run-outs were the cause of a middle order collapse. He would reach his 50 from 104 balls.

Alex French and Cheruparambil Manoj both ran themselves out in the 39th over. The situation worsened when Sharma ran when it was not his call to leave Sujanani Ram stranded. Hong Kong 134-7.

Sharma combined with Hong Kong born 27 year old all-rounder, Sher Lama, in an intelligent partnership which produced 42 runs in as many balls, with the former adopting an assertive role. Sharma then lost his wicket smashing the ball down to long off.

Lama was out soon after going down the wicket to Nasir, and tailender Mohammad Zubair followed in the fourth run out - the last wicket of the Hong Kong innings. All of the UAE attack bowled well, giving Hong Kong little latitude.

An upset looked possible earlier in the UAE innings when Hong Kong paceman, Mohammad Zubair, who had real difficulty controlling his inswingers during the previous three matches, bowled an impeccable line and length.

He removed the first three batsman, Babar Malik, Danish Jabbar and Asim Saeed to give Hong Kong hope with the UAE at 29 for 3. Asim was playing his shots early, but took one chance too many when he was bowled by Zubair.

Saeed-Al-Saffar and Man-of-the-Match Mehmood Pirbaksch then stabilised the innings with a 45 run partnership from 10 overs. Saeed was prepared to take risks, while Mehmood played the accumulator's role.

Saeed (22) was out attempting a suicidal run, bringing together Mehmood and Nasir. The majority of the remainder of the UAE was a measured milking of the loose delivery, until Miraj's blitzkrieg in the last over of the innings.

Nasir (25)lost his wicket with the score on 5-126, with the UAE having accelerated its run rate to nearly four an over, caught by Eames at long off from the bowling of Sharma for 25. Zubair again promoted hopes of a middle order UAE collapse, removing Kashif (7)with an inswinger which trapped Kashif in front.

By the time Mehmood (56) was out bowled by Lama, it was just a matter of how soon, and Miraj answered that question.

The off-spinner Jawaid Iqbal bowled economically in the middle of the UAE innings, while Sharma, replacing Brew in the attack, conceded 1-36 from nine overs. Sharma received some consolation, winning the Man-of-the-Series award.

© CricInfo Ltd.