Scotland cruise past UAE at World Cup qualifier

Scotland captain Richie Berrington led the way in Bulawayo with an innings of 127

Scotland made it two wins from two at the World Cup qualifier, sweeping past United Arab Emirates by 111 runs.

UAE kept their noses in front in terms of run rate, but losing wickets at regular intervals meant they could never build any real pressure.

Sayfaan Sharif took 4-20 and Chris Sole managed 3-37 to make it a rare success for the side batting first in Zimbabwe.

• Scotland's big win in Bulawayo - as it happened

Scotland, who enjoyed a dramatic final-ball victory over Ireland on Wednesday, were in trouble at 25-3 in the ninth over as the sharp bowling of Junaid Siddique accounted for openers Chris McBride and Matthew Cross.

However, Berrington came to the rescue with a splendid knock, bedding in and then accelerating aggressively, hitting nine fours and three sixes before he was run out off the last ball.

By then Michael Leask, the swashbuckling hero against the Irish, had contributed 41 and Chris Greaves added 22.

Mark Watt chipped in with a rapid 44 from 31 balls as he and Berrington forged a vital partnership of 110 to set a respectable total.

UAE never got going in their run chase, losing three wickets inside the powerplay, and when captain Muhammad Waseem was dismissed for 36 they were teetering on 82-5.

Partnerships briefly threatened, then fizzled out, as Scotland kept cool heads and Sharif came back into the attack to close the match out with three wickets in close succession, ending matters with a sizzling yorker.

Scotland now look forward to Group B encounters with Oman and Sri Lanka, while a third defeat for UAE snuffs out their hopes of reaching the Super Six stage.

'We knew it was going to be a bit of a graft'

Scotland captain Richie Berrington: "It was really important 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 made 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. As a team, we speak a lot about being aggressive and taking wickets. Sometimes, you can go for a few runs. Sole was outstanding. All the way through, we managed to pick up wickets.

"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."