Afghans win Intercontinental Cup

DUBAI — Afghanistan claimed the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2009-10 final with a seven-wicket victory over Scotland at Dubai Sports City Stadium on Saturday, a press release said.

Published: Sun 5 Dec 2010, 11:35 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 2:23 AM

Mirwais Ashraf and Hamid Hassan made light work of the Scottish batsmen to dismiss the side for a meagre 82 runs this morning, leaving Mohammed Shahzad to guide the team to victory with an unbeaten half-century after the Asian side chased down the target of 124 in just 26.4 overs.

Meanwhile, UAE continued their battle against Namibia with Saqib Ali and Swapnil Patil adding plenty of runs to the board to help the host nation build a lead of 162 runs leaving everything well poised for the final day’s play in the ICC Intercontinental Shield 2009-10 final at the ICC Global Cricket Academy.

Scotland faced an uphill battle at the start of the third day’s play at Dubai Sports City stadium when they resumed six wickets down for 64 runs and the lower order failed to turn things round for Gordon Drummond’s side. The innings held out for just another eight overs before Mirwais claimed three quick wickets and Hamid claimed Richie Berrington to take his haul for the final to eight wickets.

Matthew Parker dismissed Karim Sadiq early in the chase after Neil McCallum caught the opener but after Shahzad and Shabir Noori added a quick 55 things were very much in the Afghans’ favour. When Noori departed after being caught behind off the bowling of Ross Lyons, it was captain Narwoz Mangal who hit four boundaries to take Afghanistan to the brink of glory in the side’s first ICC I Cup.

At the ICC GCA’s the UAE’s former captain Saqib scored his fourth first-class hundred to push the contest in the I Shield final into the fourth and final day. Saqib played a patient unbeaten innings of 139 off 403 balls with 15 hits to the boundary and has thus far spent a total of 537 minutes at the crease. Saqib’s effort ensured UAE was able to wipe off Namibia’s lead of 241 runs with ease.

Scores in brief after day three:

ICC Intecontinental Cup 2009-10 final: First Innings: Scotland 212 all out, 81.4 overs (McCallum 104 not out, Smith 36; Hamid 5-45, Mirwais 3-53) Afghanistan 171 all out, 60.1 overs (Mangal 56, Sadiq 34; Haq 3-49, Parker 3-56)

Second Innings: Scotland 82 all out, 47.3 overs (Watts 28, Berrington 10; Shinwari 3-15, Hamid 3-39, Mirwais 3-8) Afghanistan 124-3, 26.4 overs (Noori 35, Shahzad 56; Parker 2-41)

Afghanistan won by seven wickets.

ICC Intercontinental Shield 2009-10 final: First Innings: UAE 79 all out, 25.3 overs (N Aslam 38; K Burger 7-38, L Klazinga 2-35) Namibia 320 all out, 75.2 (Steenkamp 66, S Burger 73, Williams 116; 3-46 Arshad)

Second Innings UAE 200-5, 77 overs (Arshad 50, Aslam 48, Patil 94, Saqib 139 not out; 5-80 S Burger) United Arab Emirates lead by 162 runs with 2 wickets remaining.