Shahzad, spinners give Afghanistan innings win

Mohammad Shahzad's patient 139, and five-fors from offspinner Mohammad Nabi and chinaman Zahir Khan, in the first and second innings respectively, shaped Afghanistan's innings-and-36-run victory over Namibia in an ICC Intercontinental Cup match in Greater Noida. The win helped Afghanistan climb up two spots to third place on the points table, behind Ireland and Netherlands.

Nabi led Afghanistan's charge with the ball in the first innings, after Namibia opted to bat, dismissing Stephen Baard in the 12th over. Namibia opener Pikky Ya France and Gerhard Erasmus added 56 for the third wicket but the latter's dismissal set off a collapse that saw Namibia slip from 109 for 2 to 149 for 9. Nabi, who finished with 5 for 25, had support from Zahir (3 for 31), and Dawlat Zadran and Rahmat Shah, who took a wicket each. Ya France was Namibia's top-scorer with 46 in an innings where no other batsman made more than 30

Shahzad, who was Afghanistan's leading run-scorer in the 2016 World T20, anchored Afghanistan's reply with a 245-ball 139. The opener was dropped on 13 off Sarel Burger's bowling and, after reaching his fifty off 57 balls, settled down to steer his side into the lead. Shahzad brought up his fourth first-class century off 156 deliveries and his knock, which earned him the Man-of-the-Match award, included 15 fours and a six. Afghanistan stuttered briefly after taking the lead, stumbling from 225 for 3 to 258 for 7, until a 63-run, eighth-wicket partnership between Afsar Zazai and Dawlat Zadran lifted the side past 300. Zazai was unbeaten on 49 as Afghanistan were dismissed for 334. Fast bowler Gerrie Snyman was Namibia's most effective bowler with 4 for 78.

Playing in his second first-class match, Zahir took the lead with the ball in Namibia's second innings. Nabi had given Afghanistan a breakthrough late on the second evening, dismissing Baard and wicketkeeper Zane Green to leave Namibia on 19 for 2 at stumps. Ya France (40) and Erasmus (35) resisted once again with a partnership of 57 but, like the first innings, Namibia's middle order collapsed. Erasmus fell to Zahir in the 20th over and Afghanistan wrapped up the game within the next 16 overs, taking the last eight wickets for 66 runs. Zahir spun out the middle order to finish with 5 for 31, while Dawlat chipped in with two late wickets as Namibia were bowled out for 126.