Amjad Javed, with bat and ball, leads UAE cricket to T20 win over Scotland

The UAE cut down Scotland's tail-end on Thursday to hold off the visitors for a nine-run Twenty20 win in Dubai, as Amjad Javed both top-scored and led the bowling attack.

Amjad Javed of the UAE top-scored and was the leading wicket-taker for his side on Thursday against Scotland. Michael Bradley / AFP

The National Staff

Feb 04, 2016

The UAE scored a major victory on Thursday behind Amjad Javed’s all-round excellence as they held off Scotland for a nine-run Twenty20 international win.

In their first senior victory since a November T20 win over Oman, the Emirates took on the favoured Scotland side in Dubai and decimated their tail-end to defend 148.

The UAE batted first, as Javed top scored with a stylish 79 that included five sixes and five boundaries.

Mohammed Shahzad (16) and Shaiman Anwar (15) built the UAE innings before Javed came in at No 4 with the hosts at 40-3. He shared partnerships of 35 with Mohammed Usman (9), 36 with Saqlain Haider (7) and 34 with Rohan Mustafa (12) before he was caught out from a Safyaan Sharif delivery for the sixth wicket in the final over with the UAE at 145.

Sharif led the Scottish bowling attack with 4-24 figures. Michael Leask, who made the catch on Javed at square leg, added 2-26.

Scotland raced toward the total, looking in solid position at 102-5 in the 15th over with top-scorer Preston Mommsen (56) still on strike as Richie Berrington (16) was felled by a Mustafa catch from a Zaheed Maqsood delivery for the ffith wicket.

Leask (6) and Josh Davey (2) fell cheaply for the next two wickets, though, and Mommsen was caught and bowled by Mustafa with eight balls remaining. Needing 12 from the final over with two wickets in hand, Javed bowled out Mark Watt (4) on the third ball and no serious threat was mounted.

Javed took 2-19 in with the ball, and Mohammed Naveed took 2-16.

The Emirates will next play a two-match T20 series with Ireland, on February 15-16.

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