ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

NETHERLANDS v AFGHANISTAN When Peter Borren decided to bat first, he could not have anticipated the rather poor displays against some excellent bowling, which meant that both teams had completed their first innings by the end of the day. The Dutch found life difficult against the seam attack of Shapoor Zadran, Hamid Hassan and Mirwais Ashraf, all of whom moved the ball off the pitch. Three wickets were down for 21, before Nick Statham and Tom de Grooth defended stoutly and took the score to 75 at lunch. The pair continued until, on 94, Mohammad Nabi had Statham caught by Raees Ahmadzai on the mid wicket boundary. Mohammad Nabi continued to bowl unchanged for the rest of the innings and after he took a good caught and bowled to remove de Grooth, just after the latter had reached his half-century, he took two more wickets as the Dutch resistance subsided. Hamid Hassan returned with an impressive spell at the other end and both bowlers finished with four wickets apiece. In reply, Afghanistan were completely at sea and soon on 10 for four. Their inexperience showed when Ahmed Shah survived a leg-before challenge from Edgar Schiferli, only to be run out by a direct throw from Daan van Bunge at second slip who noticed the batsman was standing outside his ground. Nawroz Mangal and Raees Ahmadzai added 50 for the fifth wicket but the stand was broken by the introduction of spin, in the form of Pieter Seelaar. Borren partnered him and eventually accounted for Nawroz Mangal, after he had been dropped three times. The innings crumbled to 107 all out, giving the Dutch a lead of 74 runs. Rain prevented play before 12.30 pm and then only four overs were possible before lunch on the second day, but these were enough for Shapoor Zadran to remove Statham. After lunch, the new ball was replaced by another after Wesley Barresi hit the original into a drainage ditch. The replacement ball swung unpredictably and the pitch proved two-paced with some balls keeping low and others bouncing to the shoulder. The Afghan pace bowlers exploited the conditions well and, by early afternoon, the Dutch were 22 for four. Barresi and Borren were able to rebuild the innings and had put on 41 before rain brought proceedings to a halt and an early tea ensued. The pair took the score to 83 when Barresi was surprised by a ball from Mirwais Ashraf which, starting well wide of the wicket, swung in alarmingly and took out the off stump. A collapse followed with no one being able to stay with Borren but, having made 63 from only 70 balls, he took a chance, went down the wicket to Mohammad Nabi and was stumped. The wicketkeeper then took an excellent diving catch to remove Schiferli, after which the innings closed quickly for only 132. Although Shapoor Zadran and Mirwais Ashraf both finished with four wickets, all the Afghan bowlers performed well and there was little choose between them. Set 207 runs to win, Afghanistan lost Ahmed Shah in the second over and Mohammad Shahzad soon afterwards. Noor Ali and Nawroz Mangal then steered them from 17 for two to 39 at the close but not before Noor Ali had survived a confident appeal for a catch by the wicketkeeper and was then dropped by Barresi at second slip. Barresi made amends for his fielding lapse on the second evening by taking the catch offered by Nawroz Mangal, after the overnight pair had taken the score to 62. Batting remained difficult, particularly against Schiferli who proved hard to handle throughout the day. A pattern was established whereby Afghanistan’s batsmen produced a series of small partnerships which took them ever closer to the target, only for the Dutch to come back into the match with two quick wickets. Overall, the contest remained closely fought with the Dutch generally holding a very slight advantage. Noor Ali and Asghar Stanikzai added 49 for the fourth wicket but both departed in quick succession, to be followed by Mohammad Nabi, to place Afghanistan in trouble at 132 for six. A seventh-wicket partnership of 28, brought to an end by a superb slip catch by Barresi, and an eighth of 37 left Afghanistan needing 10 runs to win with two wickets in hand. Schiferli picked up his fifth wicket of the innings when Shapoor Zadran was leg-before but two singles, followed by Samiullah Shenwari slashing Mudassar Bukhari over the slip cauldron to the boundary, brought Afghanistan victory with more than 24 overs of the third day remaining to be bowled. Despite being behind for most of the match, Afghanistan showed that they can never be written off. They were now unbeaten in first-class cricket after two games, one win and one draw. 190 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2009-10