Dubai: UAE’s left-arm spinner Ahmad Raza, who is the leading wicket taker in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Inter-continental Cup, produced another five-wicket spell against Afghanistan despite the visitors piling up a mammoth 510 for nine in 147 overs.
At close on the second day, the UAE were 100 for five with Afghanistan’s leg spinner Rashid Khan taking three wickets for 24 runs. Shaiman Anwar is unbeaten on 29 withstanding Khan’s fine spell.
Afghanistan, starting from their overnight score of 321 for three in 96 overs, went on to pile up runs through their skipper Asghar Stanikzai, who scored 114 runs off 163 balls with 12 boundaries. It was the third century of the innings after 19-year-old opener Ihsanullah Janat had cracked 124 runs and 24-year-old Rahmat Shah had scored 103.
Raza, who had produced a five-wicket spell in their last match against Namibia, swelled his wicket tally in this tournament to 32 wickets from six matches through this spell of five for 148 from his 53 overs.
This is Raza’s fourth five-wicket haul in this edition of the tournament and fifth five-wicket spell in first class cricket.
Speaking to Gulf News after his spell, Raza said: “It is a special feeling as this five-wicket spell is against Afghanistan which is now a Test playing nation and are toppers in this tournament. I am really enjoying bowling long spells and this is my longest spell in first class cricket. I gave away under three runs per over and against Afghanistan we need to show character and fight hard with bat too.”
UAE pacer Mohammad Naveed took his third wicket when he had overnight batsman Nasir Jamal caught behind for eight runs. Stanikzai put on a 63-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Nabi. Raza ended Nabi’s knock of 29 by having him caught by Amir Hayat.
At the score on 407, Stanikzai got out caught and bowled by Raza. Wicketkeeper Afzar Zazai and leg spinner Rashid Khan boosted the total through a 72-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
UAE skipper Rohan Mustafa had Khan play into the hands of wicketkeeper Saqlain Haider for 40. Zazai remained unbeaten on 50. Raza completed his five wickets by trapping Yahim Ahmadzai leg before for two.
Chasing the score, UAE began confidently with openers Rohan Mustafa and Chirag Suri putting on 25 runs in 7.3 overs when Ahmadzai trapped Mustafa leg before for eight. Suri too followed at the same score when Dawlat Zadran clean bowled him for 15 runs.
Afghanistan introduced their world renowned leg spinner Rashid Khan and he trapped Rameez Shahzad leg before for three. Khan then created havoc by trapping Mohammad Usman leg before for 21 runs. Next man Adnan Mufti too lasted only 19 balls to score 15 runs before Khan had him caught by Ihsanullah. Shaiman Anwar then kept the score board moving.