Scotland vs U.A.E., 12th Match, Group B at Bulawayo, CWC Qualifier, Jun 23 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary

4:06pm Right. That will be that from us for this game. Both matches today were fairly lopsided contests but the action does not stop in the World Cup Qualifier. Tomorrow, the West Indies will take on hosts Zimbabwe, while Nepal will also clash with the Netherlands. Do join us for those matches too. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Sreshth, M Venkat Raghav and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo! Goodbye and take care!

Richie Berrington, Scotland captain: (On the win) It was really important today after the win against Ireland to turn up and adapt to the conditions. Pleasing that we put in such a clinical performance with the ball and make it pretty comfortable. There was a bit on offer for the bowlers today, we knew it was going to be a bit of a graft. The longer you spent out there, the easier it got. We just have to keep getting better as each game comes. (On the bowling) As a team, we speak a lot about being aggressive and taking wickets. Sometimes, you can go for a few runs. Sole was outstanding today. All the way through, we managed to pick wickets. (On chances of making the Super Six) We know the importance of every game. We will enjoy today but we know we have a big game coming up on Sunday against Oman.

Muhammad Waseem, UAE captain: (What went wrong) I think we started very well. We took six wickets but after that, their captain played a very good innings and took the game away from us. (On the score) We started well but we suddenly gave away two-three wickets. Afterwards, we got a partnership but then we collapsed. (On what can be done to avoid such collapses) I think we need some patience. (On their last game) We cannot qualify now but we want to win the last game and we will try to put some points on the table.

Here is Richie Berrington, the Player of the Match: Pleasing to make a contribution today and to get the team up to a decent score. It was a real graft to get to that back end and get the runs flowing again. (On the conditions early) It was kind of expected that there would be a bit on offer for the bowlers. They asked a lot of questions of us. We were under pressure losing early wickets. Leask came in and took the pressure off, with Watt (doing that) at the end. It was not the sort of wicket where timing came easy. I tried to run hard and put the bowlers under pressure as much as I could, and then tried to cash in at the back end. Whatever we do, we have to be our best and try to execute our skills as best as we can.

3:51pm Well, that turned into an utterly one-sided contest in the end. UAE never got going in their run-chase, losing three wickets inside the powerplay. Captain Waseem and Asif tried to rebuild but once the latter perished, UAE fell too far behind. Scotland kept chipping away through the middle overs and Sharif, who had broken the game open with Asif's dismissal, came back at the end to close out the game. Sole was also very impressive with the new ball. McMullen did not quite hit the heights he hit the other day but managed to pick up the important wicket of Mustafa. Watt, as ever, was tidy.

UAE, on the other hand, would be ruing the advantage they gave up earlier in the day when they had Scotland 48-4. Berrington produced a stellar knock to dig Scotland out but UAE were also guilty of letting the game drift. A 283-run chase always seemed a tall order, and the way UAE capitulated indicated that they had given up too many runs in the first innings.

For Scotland, this was perhaps the perfect display, barring what happened early in their batting powerplay. Their captain was back among the runs, their middle order stood up again and their bowlers did not let go of that momentum. They now have two wins in two and would be fancying their chances of making the Super Six. UAE, meanwhile, are now out of contention for the Super Six phase.

Zahoor is the last batter in

Watt to continue

Siddique in at 10

Hello everyone, again, and thanks Sreshth. Sharif is back and Scotland would hope he can close out this game quickly

And here's Shashwat again with these two young UAE batters promising to not give up.

Watt.