Hapless UAE batters sink to record low as they crumble to series loss against Scotland

The UAE fell to a new low after being shot out for their lowest ever score in full international cricket.

The national team capitulated to 62 all out to surrender the T20 international series to Scotland.

They had only required 95 to win the deciding third match at Dubai International Stadium on Thursday night. But the all-too familiar failings of their batters continued as they gave up meekly, first against the new-ball bowling of Brad Currie and Jack Jarvis, then the spin of Mark Watt.

They could only survive a mere 15.2 overs, with Currie, Jarvis and Watt taking three wickets each to give the tourists a 32-run win.

It was the worst performance ever with the bat by the national team. In T20 cricket, they had twice been bowled out for 73 in the past. First, against the Netherlands just up the road at the ICC Academy in 2016, then against Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup in Geelong in 2022.

Their worst return in one-day internationals was the 71 they were bowled out for in a humbling by Nepal in Kathmandu a year ago.

Third T20I: Congratulations Scotland!
A brilliant comeback by the visitors as they win the third T20I by 32 runs.
Scotland win the three-match series 2-1.
Match details: https://t.co/JZWJh5b80w pic.twitter.com/RbJyhEWqaM

This time around, six of the UAE batters made ducks. Akif Raja, a bowler, was the only player who showed any fight, making a plucky 28 before he was last out.

Muhammad Waseem, the UAE captain, was first out for a duck, stumped. As has become the norm, it felt as though the national team’s chances were wholly reliant on the fortunes of their skipper. Without him, they crumbled.

“I don’t want [it to be like] this, but it does feel that if I go early my team is under pressure,” Waseem said.

“In the