The UAE’s progress was hindered on the path to World Cup qualification as they suffered a 53-run defeat to Scotland in a rain-affected encounter in New Zealand yesterday.
It was the national team’s first loss in the pool stage of the 10-team tournament, which will decide the final two places at next year’s competition in Australia and New Zealand.
The match was played in Queenstown, in New Zealand’s south, at the same venue as where Corey Anderson earlier this month struck the fastest one-day international century.
The fact that it is a venue for fast scoring was emphasised as Scotland racked up 265 in the 28 overs they were afforded after the game was shorted by the weather.
Calum Macleod, who made a century, and Matty Cross made the most of some lacklustre UAE fielding as they fired an opening stand worth 178 within 18 overs.
The national team fell short in reply despite 87 in just 54 balls by Khurram Khan, the captain, and a breezy 36 in 21 deliveries by Shaiman Anwar.
“Scotland batted very well, and when you are chasing a big total like that it is not that easy,” Khurram said.
“We didn’t get any partnerships going and when you are chasing 10 an over somebody needs to get a hundred and somebody else needs to get a big score as well.
“That didn’t happen, we kept losing wickets and it cost us.”
The national team had altered the make-up of their side, dropping Kamran Shahzad from the four-pronged seam attack, and bringing back both spinners Ahmed Raza and Shadeep Silva.
However, all the bowlers were rendered helpless by a morning rain shower.
“When we started bowling the ball got wet very quickly and then it was doing nothing and it was easier to bat,” Khurram said.
“Scotland’s openers batted really well, they made the most of their chances. We dropped chances and they made us pay for that.
“We have another match against Hong Kong, and we are looking forward to that now.”
The UAE are still well placed to advance to the Super Six stage, having won their opening two matches, against Nepal and Canada, convincingly.
However, Scotland will carry over the points from this win into the next phase, while the UAE earned nothing from defeat.
The result makes Thursday’s meeting with Hong Kong a must-win encounter for the UAE, but they will need to halt the tournament’s form side.
Undefeated Hong Kong, who are regular opponents for the UAE in continental competitions, thrashed Nepal by 10 wickets yesterday, with Irfan Ahmed, the opener, posting a third successive half-century.
pradley@thenational.ae
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