Cricket World Cup: Unlikely underdogs win backing

The UAE cricket team

Hawke's Bay Today's adopted ICC Cricket World Cup team the United Arab Emirates have found fellow supporters out in radioland and are in the hunt to be picked up as the second favoured side to take the cup - after the Black Caps, of course.

Martin and Sarah at The Hits have launched a competition for people to call in and nominate their second favourite team and the calls have been, well, interesting.

"Oh they're all over the show," co-host Martin Good said, adding that yes, there had been calls nominating the UAE lads.

How many had there been?

"Ah, not many, but hey, you're on the money as far as a couple of people are concerned."

He said there were no clear favourites at this early stage of the competition which runs until Monday, March 2.

"We've got a couple of regular Aussie listeners so of course Aussie's got some votes and hey, look at the luck of the Irish - they've got a few after taking out the West Indies."

People can make their choice by calling The Hits or going online at thehits.co.nz and at the end of the competition there will be a draw of all those who nominated a side with the winner set to walk away with five centuries. ... that's $500.

Hawke's Bay Today decided to get in behind one of the four sides set to play at McLean Park in Napier next month and chose the UAE, who go into the international showdown as 14th favourite of 14.

It is all about giving a cheer for the underdogs, and the side would have been greatly buoyed by seeing Ireland knock over the West Indies in Nelson on Monday.

The UAE's campaign also kicks off in Nelson tomorrow when they take on Zimbabwe.

They go into the clash having shown some form against Afghanistan in a build-up clash in Melbourne two days ago.

While Afghanistan won the game the UAE batsmen and bowlers showed some fine touches, with openers Andri Berenger and Amjad Ali smashing 61 runs in the first seven overs.

At the end of the day UAE scored an impressive 294 - falling just 14 runs short of the Afghanistan total.