Scotland push Intercontinental Cup cricket match with Afghanistan to a third day

Gordon Drummond and Safyaan Sharif shared a 25-run partnership for the last wicket for Scotland but Izzatullah Dawlatzai was the hero again for Afghanistan, writes Amith Passela.

Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi, centre, bats during an Intercontinental Cup match against Scotland on Wednesday at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // Scotland delayed the inevitable of an innings defeat as Gordon Drummond and Safyaan Sharif shared a 25-run partnership for the last wicket to take their Intercontinental Cup match against Afghanistan into a third day on Thursday.

The defiant stand in the last 8.1 overs of Wednesday's play at Zayed Cricket Stadium saw Scotland end the day 144 for nine –trailing by six runs with just one wicket remaining – as Izzatullah Dawlatzai, who took six wickets in the first innings, was once again Afghanistan's hero.

The 21-year-old fast bowler grabbed five more wickets on Wednesday and could have ended the game with six had Dawlat Zadran held on to a catch at long leg off of a pull shot from Drummond.

Dawlatzai was on a hat-trick twice in the second innings and has already taken a match best career best 11 for 94.

Kabir Khan, the Afghanistan coach, felt leaving the youngster out of the two Twenty20 and the 50-over matches against Scotland had stirred his appetite.

"It has been a long wait for him as he didn't get an opportunity to play in the shorter formats. He got hungrier when given the opportunity to play," Kabir said. "He was a bit frustrated when he wasn't picked for the shorter formats ... He has bowled brilliantly throughout this match and his performance now makes us think of trying him out in all formats."

Afghanistan resumed Wednesday on 150 for four to increase their first-innings lead to 150 with Rahmat Shah playing the anchor role for a well-compiled 67 not out.

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