Afghanistan take lead after bowlers dominate
Izatullah Dawlatzai took career-best figures of 6 for 57 to dismiss Scotland for a paltry 125 in the Intercontinental Cup in Abu Dhabi
ESPNcricinfo staff
12-Mar-2013
Izatullah Dawlatzai took career-best figures of 6 for 57 to dismiss Scotland for a paltry 125 in the Intercontinental Cup in Abu Dhabi. After Afghanistan chose to field, Mirwais Ashraf dismissed both the openers in his first five overs and Dawlatzai ran through the Scotland batsmen after that, starting with a double-strike in the 15th over. Ashraf struck again after that when he trapped Calum McLeaod lbw for a duck in the very next over.
Dawlatzai took two wickets in his next two overs, with wickets of David Murphy for a duck and Matt Machan for eight, leaving Scotland at 44 for 7. However, No. 8 Robert Taylor struck an unbeaten 54-ball 48 to take them past 100. He forged a 57-run stand for the last wicket with Safyaan Sharif to post 125.
Afghanistan got off to a cautious start with a 39-run opening stand but lost Nawroz Mangal in the 18th over. Shabir Noori (33) and Asghar Stanikzai (41) put on 48 for the second wicket but Noori fell to Majid Haq. They lost two quick wickets just after the 100-run mark, including that of Stanikzai, and finished the day 25 ahead of Scotland.