Cricket: Scotland in driving seat after Gordon pulls wickets out of Goudie bag

Scotland are primed to clinch their first victory of the current Intercontinental Cup campaign in Sharjah despite the obduracy of the United Arab Emirates’ batsmen on the penultimate day of the four-day match.

Trailing by 131 runs at its outset, the hosts dug in and declined to cede their ground. Ultimately it took a late flurry of three wickets from Gordon Goudie, pictured right, to tilt the balance.

As England found on this same ground last month, there are, however, no guarantees.

Having drawn their opening two fixtures in this competition, opportunity knocks for Gordon Drummond’s men to claim the decisive result they need to move into second place in the standings behind unbeaten Ireland. Just 81 runs behind with the Emirates on 286-7, a ruthless touch will be expected and required.

An innings of 76 from Saqib Ali and a supplement of 71 from Arshad Ali did, at least, steer the home side away from abject disappointment after the meagre haul of 100 in their first innings. Goudie’s three wickets for 49, all claimed after the new ball was taken in the final session, was enough to dampen their exhilaration.

The momentum must be maintained today, admitted Scotland coach Pete Steindl. “It’s still going to be a battle,” he underlined. “They’ve got two attacking batters still in there. We’re in a good position but we have the get the ball in the right areas, take those three wickets as quickly as possible and then ask our batters to take us home.”

Commencing on 74-2, Arshad and Ahmed Raza began the serial frustration of their guests. Their partnership yielded 45 before the latter edged to Ryan Flannigan but Saqib took hold. Ali and Ali settled into a rhythm that Drummond and Majid Haq, in turn, found difficult to unsettle.

Guiding UAE into a numerical lead, and four runs short of a century stand in tandem, Haq denied their impending euphoria, tempting Arshad to swipe into the hands of Freddie Coleman. It was no more than the spinner deserved, delivering maiden returns in 15 of his first 33 overs with the ball.

Emirates captain Khurram Khan arrived with his team in good shape to establish an awkward tally. Goudie’s intentions differed. Khurram had accumlated 38 when he was trapped lbw. Two balls later Amjad Ali was dismissed in similar fashion. As the close neared, Saqib was finally removed as the Scots breathed a little easier.

“We knew it would be a tough day,” Steindl said. “Our aim was to keep them quiet, limit the boundaries and put as many dot balls together in a row. And then when we took the new ball late on, Gouds really took advantage.”