Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s valiant effort in the second innings was not enough to stop the formidable Afghanistan win by 10 wickets in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Intercontinental Cup at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

The victory helped Afghanistan lift the Intercontinental Cup for the second time as they picked the full 20 points available from an outright win and finish 12 points above the second-placed Ireland.

The UAE, who fought valiantly in their second innings after being forced to follow on, avoided an innings defeat but were bowled out for 331. Upcoming leg spinner Rashid Khan destroyed the UAE’s middle order to return with a spell of five for 83. Afghanistan reached the required 19 runs in 5.3 overs without losing a wicket.

Speaking to Gulf News, UAE skipper Rohan Mustafa, who led the fightback in the second innings through a determined knock of 68 and put on 146 runs for the opening wicket with young Chirag Suri (81), said: “We fought hard against the champions. We did a few mistakes in the first innings and so in the second innings we went with a plan. The plan worked out but we were very behind because of our first innings mistakes.”

At close on the third day, the UAE were 201 for three in their second innings needing another 112 runs to prevent an innings defeat. Rameez Shahzad, who was unbeaten on 18 batted hard to score 46 runs. His partner Saqlain Haider on nine inside edged to his pads and Javed Ahmad took the catch at short leg to give Rashid his first wicket of the innings.

Rashid then forced Mohammad Usman inside edge on to this stump for 28. Ahmad Raza then played Rashid into the hands of Mohammad Nabi at slips for a duck, while Amjad Javed fell leg before to help Rashid pick three wickets in four balls.

Adnan Mufti took up the challenge and hit 41 runs off 38 balls with seven boundaries to prevent the innings defeat. Mufti’s knock ended when he fended an edge to wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai off Nabi.

Rashid ended UAE’s innings by trapping last man Amir Hyat leg before with a googly for the third duck of the innings.

Over 500 fans had turned up to cheer for Afghanistan and their skipper Asghar Stanikzai, after receiving the Intercontinental Cup silverware, took it into the crowd. Afghanistan thus ended their last match in Intercontinental Cup in style as they embark on a new journey as a Test playing nation.