Brief scores: Scotland 339 for 6 in 104 overs (Preston Mommsen 108, Hamish Gardiner 85, Anthony Umeed 68, Richard Berrington 43, Amjad Javed 3-72)
Preston Mommsen smashed a superb century as Scotland posted 339 for six against the UAE on the opening day of their three-day warm-up match at the Ageas Bowl in Hampshire, England.
Andrew Umeed (68) and Hamish Gardiner (85) set the platform with a breezy 148-run stand for the first wicket before Mommsen joined the party.
Mommsen’s 108 was highlighted by 11 fours and a six. He was fourth out to left-arm medium pacer Manjula Guruge at 321. Amjad Javed then provided a double blow by taking two wickets for the addition of 12 runs to return as the most successful bowler with 3-72 from 23 overs yesterday.
Left-arm spinner Fayyaz Ahmed got the breakthrough when he had Gardiner caught by Javed. Ahmed Raza, another left arm spinner, then had Umeed caught by Guruge at 171.
Javed removed George Munsey (26) with the score at 207 before a fourth wicket partnership between Mommsen and Richard Berrington (43) moved Scotland up a gear. The UAE will want to see the back of Scotland’s lower order as quickly as possible today to give their batsmen the much-desired time in the middle ahead of their four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup against Ireland on June 2.
Scotland included left-arm spinner Mark Watt, 18, and opener Umeed, 19, in their 12-member squad.
The team also included another left-arm spinner Con de Lange, who has played most of his first-class cricket in South Africa, but has become eligible for Scotland selection after completing a four-year residency.
“It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to play at the Ageas Bowl against our Associate rivals UAE as we build towards our first I-Cup fixture,” said Grant Bradburn, the Scotland coach.
“We have important international fixtures in all three formats of the game over the coming months and we have witnessed healthy competition for places in our first Scotland selection following the World Cup.
“Our players will relish the chance to come together to fine tune our red balls skills at a Test venue of such quality.”
Scotland play Afghanistan in the Intercontinental Cup on June 2 in Stirling.
apassela@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at NatSportUAE

