Bagai leads Canada's strong performance
Afghanistan's maiden first-class game on their now official home ground - Sharjah - got off to a poor start with Canada's top order piling on the runs on the opening day of their ICC Intercontinental Cup match
Cricinfo staff
20-Feb-2010
Canada 350 for 6 (Bastiampillai 55, Kumar 74, Bagai 93) v Afghanistan
Scorecard'
Scorecard'
Afghanistan's maiden first-class game on their now official home ground - Sharjah - got off to a poor start with Canada's top order piling on the runs on the opening day of their ICC Intercontinental Cup match. Ashish Bagai top-scored, but missed out on a century, and there were half-centuries from Trevin Bastiampillai and Nitish Kumar as Canada reached 350 for 6 by stumps.
Canada's openers, Sandeep Jyoti and Bastiampillai, added 61 before Jyoti was dismissed by Mohammad Nabi for 32. Kumar then joined Bastiampillai for another protective stand for the second wicket, worth 50, but the innings' best alliance was between Kumar and his captain Bagai. They added 155 but Canada were jolted when both fell in consecutive overs, leaving the innings on 271 for 4. Bagai had made 93 before he was caught by Samiullah Shenwari off Mirwais Ashraf.
Ramesh David and Sunil Dhaniram were building another useful stand when Shenwari struck two blows late in the day, bowling David and trapping Jimmy Hansra lbw, to raise Afghanistan's spirits. Canada, who were on 266 for 2 at one stage, finished on 350 for 6.