Scotland cling on for draw

Scotland 373 and 137 for 6 (Brown 26*, Wright 16*) drew with UAE 348 and 356 for 8 dec (A Ali 87, Silva 84, S Ali 62*) lead
Scorecard

Scotland failed to guarantee themselves a place in the final after their match with UAE ended in a draw. They had 46 overs to score 332 for victory and although they set off in determined mood, Paul Hoffman blasting 48 from 32 balls, once they slipped to 85 for 5 they decided to shut up shop to take the draw.

The pace trio of Ali Asad, Ahmed Nadeem and Ahmed Raza did the damage, taking six wickets between them, to set Scotland on the ropes. But then Dougie Brown (26 from 92 balls) and Craig Wright (16 from 37) did their best limpet impressions to survive. Their unbroken partnership was worth 36.

UAE's second innings continued in cracking vein, who blasted their way to 356 for 8 before declaring. Both Arshad Ali and Gayan Silva failed to convert their overnight fifties to centuries, each getting out in the eighties, but their efforts, along with those of Saqib Ali who added an unbeaten 62 to his first-innings century, were more than enough to boost UAE to a competitive total.

Scotland took six points from the game, but needed an outright victory to secure 20 points and a place in the final. Their draw means that Ireland could sneak in by winning their final game against the UAE later in January. The UAE aren't out of it, either - they could also reach the final by winning both games with a higher run rate per wicket.