Scotland completed a remarkable turnaround to seal a 2-1 T20 series win over the UAE, as they defeated their hosts by 32 runs in another low-scoring affair.
After the Scots were bowled out for just 94 it looked as though it would be the hosts who took the T20I series spoils, but a superb bowling performance that saw Brad Currie (3-7), Jack Jarvis (3-14) and Mark Watt (3-11) take three wickets apiece restricted the UAE to just 62.
Reflecting on the triumph, Jack Jarvis said: “We’re really happy to have won the series, in the last two games we showed some real courage and fight to get over the line so that’s really pleasing.
“We didn’t get the total that we wanted to, but we still had that belief, especially after doing it last night, and having them 15-5 in the powerplay, we were always in the game.
“It’s been really nice to make my T20I debut out here, that feeling of playing for Scotland is really special and it was great to get out there and take a few wickets to help the team out.”
After being put in by their hosts, George Munsey and Brandon McMullen got the Saltires off to a flying start, both men finding the boundary as they added 33 in just 20 balls for the first wicket.
However, Brandon McMullen’s departure for 9, chipping a simple return catch back to Omid Rahman, sparked the loss of 10 wickets for just 61 runs.
George Munsey (21) fell LBW to Basil Hameed, and captain Richie Berrington’s stay at the crease was brief as he was bowled for one by Akif Raja.
Charlie Tear and Michael Leask stabilised the innings as they took the total beyond 50, but Leask would depart for 11, bowled by Hameed.
Tear used his feet effectively as he pummelled Aayan Khan down the ground for six, but then departed next ball for 16, top edging an attempted sweep to Muhammad Waseem.
Chris Greaves (2), Jack Jarvis (4) and Safyaan Sharif (1) all fell in quick succession to leave Scotland reeling at 73-8, but Mark Watt and Brad Currie added what proved to be a vital 21 for the ninth wicket.
Watt (13) would eventually depart in the final over to Omid Rahman, before Hamza Tahir was bowled first ball, as the Scots finished on 94, Currie unbeaten on 8.
It didn’t take too long for 94 to look an imposing total on the Dubai International Stadium surface, as Brad Currie and Jack Jarvis tore through the UAE top order.
Sharp glovework from Charlie Tear had Muhammad Waseem (0) stumped off the bowling of Currie, before Jarvis struck with his first bowl to dismiss Tanish Suri (0).
Currie then did for Alishan Sharafu (5) as George Munsey took a sharp catch at slip, and when Tear took a blinding one-handed catch to remove Aryan Larka (0) from Jarvis, the hosts were 8-4.
Their slide would continue as Ashwanth Valthapa was Currie’s third victim, and Mark Watt struck twice in his first over to reduce the UAE to 19-7.
Rahul Chopra (14) and Akif Raja (28) added some resistance as they combined for a 29-run partnership, but the reintroduction of Jack Jarvis did for Chopra, caught at the wicket by Tear.
Chris Greaves got in on the act as he trapped Rahman LBW, and it was left to Mark Watt to clean up the innings as he took out Raja’s off-stump, as the UAE fell 32 runs short.
