The UAE recovered from a rickety start against Scotland on the first day of their Intercontinental Cup match against Scotland at Ayr today, Shaiman Anwar and Rameez Shahzad putting on 123 for the fifth wicket after the hosts had the best of an abbreviated afternoon session.

Morning showers had prevented play until 3pm, but there was plenty of action once the game got underway. Laxman Sreekumar hit his first two balls for six and four as the visitors got off to a showy start, but the Scots struck back seven overs later when Josh Davey produced a double wicket maiden to account for Mohammad Qasim and Saqlain Haider. Ali Evans then nicked off Sreekumar with the first ball of the next over, captain Preston Mommsen taking the catch at slip, before the two combined again ten overs later to have the Emiratis reeling on 66-4.

Anwar and Shahzad saw them through to Tea however, and after the break pressed on to take the visitors into triple figures. After Shahzad had brought up the century partnership Anwar began to cut loose, taking 15 runs off Mark Watt in the 51st over including three consecutive boundaries.

Watt would have his revenge in his next over however, Anwar going for one shot too many and holing out on the rope at long-off for 78, but that would be the last wicket to fall. Shahzad and Ahmed Raza saw out the day calmly, the UAE finishing on 198-5 at stumps.

Honours were more or less split for the first day, but it seems likely that the weather will be the only winner in the coming days, with heavy rain expected overnight and the forecast for the following days looking bleak.