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Shahzad leads UAE to victory in Dubai

Lizzie Sleet @CricketScotland
January 23, 2018 6 years

Scotland 299/9 (50 overs) Berrington 90, Coetzer 75, lost to UAE 300/6 (49.1 overs) Shahzad 121*, Ahmed 92, by 4 wickets. [Scorecard] 

Scotland met the tournament hosts the United Arab Emirates for the final game of the Tri-Series at the ICC Academy.

Experimenting at the top of the order, Michael Leask was sent in to open with Kyle Coetzer. Leask showed attacking intent against the new ball, striking 3 boundaries, before being caught for 15.

Sunday’s centurian Matthew Cross contributed 12 runs to the score but was removed when Rohan Mustafa took a return catch off his own bowling, with Scotland 49/2.

Coetzer was to register his first 50 of 2018 in his second match. The captain and Richie Berrington took their side past 100 before Coetzer was caught for 75.

Berrington continued to push the score on at a reasonable rate and found a willing partner in George Munsey at the other end. The pair put on the highest partnership of the Scottish innings of 76.

Just as it seemed a big score was on the cards, the Scots lost Munsey (47) in the 41st over before Berrington went in the following over just 10 runs short of his hundred, with the score on 257/6.

Wickets fell at regular intervals during the remaining overs as 42 runs were added from the final 8 overs. Mark Watt ended unbeaten on 10 with the innings concluding on 299/9.

In the UAE reply, Scott Cameron dismissed Rohan Mustafa for 2 and Watt bowled the dangerous Ghulam Shabber for 17 with the score on 50/2 in the 11th over.

Ashfaq Ahmed (92) and Rameez Shahzad then added 125 runs for the third wicket to put the hosts into a strong position on a good wicket.

Sharif gave the Scots hope as he took two wickets and was involved with a run out, but Shahzad’s 121no was enough to take the UAE home in the final over of the game.

After the match Head Coach Grant Bradnburn said, “This series has been a tough challenge against quality opposition and so valuable in many ways. We have seen new players take opportunities to show they are very capable at this level. We have also spent valuable time developing plans and combinations for the WCQ in Zimbabwe.

The batting was par today with several excellent contributions without anyone helping themselves to a big hundred on offer. None of our batsmen were able to capitalise at the death and feast on the closing overs where the UAE seam attack were very skilful and executed well to restrict the chase to 300.

A forced change this morning and replacement of Stuart Whittingham left us a bowler light, which UAE ultimately took advantage of grabbing the win in the final over.”

Despite the defeat, Scotland finish the Tri-Series in second place and will now fly home to continue preparations towards the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.

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