Dubai: The UAE’s batsmen found it hard to cope with the English conditions and longer version of the game in their three-day match against Scotland at the Ageas Bowl in Hampshire.
They were bowled out for a paltry 73 runs on the second day on Wednesday after Scotland declared their first innings at 431 for 8.
UAE, who are playing this friendly match to acclimatise ahead of their four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Ireland, could not handle the bowling of 24-year-old Safyaan Sharif, who took five wickets for 41 runs. Sharif plays for Kent’s county team.
Aaqib Javed’s side, who rarely get to play longer matches, unlike most of the Scotland players, who play in English county cricket, found it hard to adjust their strokes.
Scotland declined to enforce the follow-on and declared their second innings at 196 for 4. Chasing a mammoth target of more than 500, UAE in their second innings were 40 for no loss at the close.
Scotland had started the second day at 339 for six. Michael Leask hit 61 from 56 balls before they declared.
In Scotland’s second innings, their star was George Munsey, who hit a half-century. For Scotland, who will face Afghanistan next week in an Intercontinental Cup match at Stirling, this performance is a big boost.
