Saudi Arabia opened their Group A campaign in the Asian Cricket Council's Elite Trophy with a 29-run win over UAE at the Royal Military College. On being sent in, their openers had contrasting fortunes: Hammad Saeed was dismissed for a duck in the first over while Khalid Butt laced a 96-ball 110, featuring 14 fours and 5 sixes, to power Saudi Arabia to 228. Despite needing to chase a modest total, the UAE batsmen set off as if needing to overhaul a massive score. Manic cameos from Mohammad Iqbal (14 off 5), Amjad Ali (38 off 22) and Saqib Ali (48 off 42) kept the asking rate in check but wickets were falling with alarming frequency. UAE kept attacking to the end, being dismissed for 199 after facing just 30 overs.