Wednesday April 13, 2016
KABUL (BNA) Afghanistan on Tuesday clinched defeated Namibia by an innings and 36 runs in first-class four-day match played at Greater Noida Sport Complex, New Dheli-India.
Mohammad Shezad’s patient 139 and five-fors from off spinner Mohammad Nabi nd 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. 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 were Namibia's top-scorer with 46 in an innings where no other batsman made more than 30. Afghanistan has strengthened their grip on their four-day Intercontinental Cup match against Namibia in India, thanks to a superb century by Mohammad Shahzad. The gutsy batsman smashed his fourth first-class century (139) to help Afghanistan take a valuable 162 runs lead over Namibia, which struggled at 19 for 2 in their second innings on Monday. At stumps on Monday, Afghanistan was in control of the duel. Nabi trapped lbw Stephan Baard, the Namibian captain, and Zane Green, the ACB spokesman said, praising Afsar Zazai for his determined unbeaten 49. Namibia is in seventh place, with one victory and one loss. They outplayed Hong Kong in May, but lost to Ireland in October by an innings and 107 runs.
