Hassan's strikes floor Canada

Canada 21 for 4 (Hassan 4-12) trail Afghanistan 293 (Shenwari 70, Shahzad 56, Hussain 3-56) by 272 runs
Scorecard

Fast bowler Hamid Hassan helped defending champions Afghanistan take control of their Intercontinental Cup match against Canada in King City. Hassan picked up four wickets to leave Canada floundering after Afghanistan were bowled out for 293 in their first innings.

Jimmy Hansra's decision to field seemed to have paid off as Canada started strongly, dismissing the Afghanistan openers within the first eight overs. However, an 82-run stand for the third wicket between Mohammad Shahzad (56) and Nawroz Mangal (28) steadied the innings. Shahzad and Mangal fell with the score on 106 to swing the momentum Canada's way again. But three steady partnerships for Afghanistan carried them to 293 before they were dismissed. Samiullah Shenwari top scored for Afghanistan with 70 while Zahid Hussain picked up three wickets for the hosts.

Canada's hopes of making a solid first-innings score were damaged when Hamid Hassan's four-wicket burst left them struggling at 21 for 4. Opener Ruvindu Gunasekara was the first to go for 10, lbw to Hassan in the third over. Hiral Patel, Zubin Surkari and Tyson Gordon soon followed - all three batsmen failing to reach double figures. At stumps, Harvir Baidwan and Hansra were at the crease, yet to open their account, with Canada trailing by 272 runs.