Scotland’s Men recorded a comprehensive eight wicket win over UAE in Dubai to score their first points in their ICC CWCL2 campaign.
After a disappointing defeat against Canada on Friday, the Scots responded in style with both ball and bat, bowling UAE out for 132 before chasing down the target inside 24 overs.
Player of the Match Brad Currie (3-21) was the pick of the bowlers, as Scotland imposed themselves on their hosts in the field. George Munsey (37) then jumpstarted the reply with some spectacular hitting, before Charlie Tear (54 not out) sparkled on debut with a superb unbeaten half century, ably supported by Brandon McMullen (39) as the Scots cruised to victory.
It was a perfect first Scotland appearance for Tear at the top of the order, with the Sussex batsman replacing Andy Umeed who picked up an injury against Canada. Richie Berrington won the toss and opted to field, and the Scots made the perfect start as UAE captain Muhammad Waseem was run out in calamitous fashion off just the seventh ball of the innings.
The new ball partnership of Brad Currie and Safyaan Sharif applied constant pressure, helped by some early movement, and Currie was rewarded with two wickets in his opening spell, including a brilliant stumping by Matthew Cross, as UAE were reduced to 42-3.
Chris Greaves’ introduction into the attack in the 20th over paid immediate dividends as he pinned Rahul Chopra LBW to make it 59-4.
It was then 63-5, as Scott Currie enticed Vriitya Aravind to mistime a shot straight to brother Brad at mid-off, who gleefully took the catch.
Aayan Afzal Khan and Basil Hameed rebuilt UAE’s innings with a stand of 51, but as they threatened to grab the momentum, Sharif returned and produced a beauty to bowl Hameed for 15. Scott Currie then fired in a short ball that Zuhaib Zubair could only spoon to Charlie Tear at midwicket.
With the tail exposed, Brad Currie cleaned up Rahul Bhatia for 2, Mark Watt trapped Zahoor Khan LBW for a duck, and Michael Leask brilliantly ran out Junaid Siddique with a direct hit to leave UAE 132 all out, and complete a superb all-round effort by the Scots.
In reply, Munsey tore into UAE’s attack, flicking Siddique for six over midwicket before two audacious reverse sweep maximums off Aayan Afzal Khan. The opener raced to 37 from just 26 balls, before being given LBW attempting to sweep Hameed.
Tear followed Munsey’s lead as he swept Zahoor Khan into the stands, building a solid second wicket partnership with Brandon McMullen. While the debutant was lucky to survive as Sharafu dropped an easy chance at midwicket, the Sussex batsman largely looked secure at the crease on his introduction to the international arena. McMullen was also in fine form, and the pair reached drinks after 18 overs at 110-1.
McMullen was bowled by Aayan Afzal with just six needed, but Tear ended the innings – and brought up his half century – in style with a swept six over midwicket to complete a perfect day.
George Munsey said:
“The bowlers did a superb job up top. It’s never easy here to hit your lines and lengths straight away, but Brad Saffy and Scott all bowled really nicely and the spinners did their thing in the middle of the innings.
“It was awesome to go out there with Teary and chase down their score so quickly, and we had some fun out there. I thought Charlie did really well, showed just pure class throughout his innings, and saw us home finishing with a lovely six. It was a good day all round for us.’
Charlie Tear said:
“I’m very happy. The most important thing was to get the result, but getting my first fifty for Scotland is really special, so I’m not taking it for granted! To get the win so emphatically as well, it’s really pleasing for the whole group.”
The squad now have three days to prepare for a rematch with Canada on Thursday. To follow the action from Dubai, head to ICC TV for live coverage of all CWCL2 fixtures.
