Dubai: UAE’s World Cupper Amjad Javed took three of the six Scotland wickets that fell on the first day of their three-day match at Ages Bowl in Hampshire on Tuesday as the latter scored 336 for six. Skipper Preseton Mommsen topscored with 105 as Harmish Gardiner chipped in with 85.
The UAE cricketer, not familiar to playing in the longer version of the game, are using this match to prepare for the four-day Intercontinental Cup fixture against Ireland next month. Scotland are also using this match as warm-up for their Intercontinental Cup challenge against Afghanistan in Stirling.
UAE won the toss but put Scotland into bat. Opener Gardiner (85) and Andrew Umeed (61) gave the Scots a good start by putting on 148 runs for the first wicket.
Mommsen then took charge and hit his century off 137 balls with 17 fours and a six. Richie Berrington too chipped in with 43 runs.
Speaking to Gulf News from Hampshire, Javed who bowled 23 overs to take three wickets for 73 runs, said: “It was an amazing experience to bowl in conditions here. It is indeed ideal for a three-dayer and it was lovely to bowl on a pitch like this here. I rarely get to bowl so many overs in Dubai as we always play limited over matches and to bowl 23 overs on the first day and to get rewarded with three wickets makes it special.”
Mommsen’s innings finally came to an end when left-arm pacer Manjula Guruge dismissed him with the score reading 321 for four. Javed picked the next two wickets.
As the action was nearly close, Con de Lange who had played first class cricket for South Africa and got eligible to play for Scotland, edged and got caught behind. Michael Leask and Matthew Cross played out the final few overs. A total of 104 overs were bowled on the first day.
