ICC Intercontinental Cup final, Dubai (day one, stumps):
Scotland 212 v Afghanistan 18-1 (4 overs)
Match scorecard

Richie Berriington plays the ball away from Afghan bowler Hamid Hassan

Neil McCallum's unbeaten century saved Scotland from embarrassment on the opening day of the ICC Intercontinental Cup final with Afghanistan in Dubai.

McCallum struck 104 not out off 221 balls in an innings featuring 17 fours, but only two other batsmen made double figures in Scotland's 212 all out.

Richie Berrington hit 29 and wicketkeeper Simon Smith added 36.

Afghanistan were 18 for one at stumps, 194 runs behind, after losing Shabir Noori in their first four overs.

The two sides qualified for the final as the two leading nations following a round-robin competition between the seven best non-Test-playing nations.

Scotland, seeking to reclaim the title they won in the inaugural event in 2004, won the toss and captain Gordon Drummond elected to bat.

Afghanistan beat Scotland by 229 runs in Ayr in August after a first-innings collapse and Scotland were on course for a similar defeat before McCallum came to the crease.

Preston Mommsen was out for three in the fifth over and his fellow opener, Fraser Watts (five), followed six balls later.

Kyle Coetzer was out for a duck in the ninth over, leaving Scotland reeling on 19 for three.

McCallum joined Berrington in the middle to put on 32 runs for the fourth wicket before his partner perished caught behind.

Then McCallum watched as Scotland fell from 51 for four to 97 for eight, with Gregor Maiden (three), Matthew Parker (nine), Majid Haq (six) and Drummond (three) all returning to the pavilion.

However, a 107-run ninth-wicket stand between McCallum and Smith restored credibility.

Once wicketkeeper Smith was out, Afghanistan swiftly mopped up the Scotland innings, leaving McCallum unbeaten after watching his team crumble around him.

Hamid Hassan finished with five for 45 for Afghanistan, with Mirwais Ashraf taking three wickets and Shapoor Zadran two.

Four overs remained in the day for Afghanistan to bat, with Parker removing Noori in the third over, leaving Karim Sadiq and Ashraf unbeaten on two and five, respectively, at the close.

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