ICC Intercontinental Cup final, Dubai (day three): Scotland 212 & 82 lost by seven wickets to Afghanistan 171 & 124-3 Match scorecard  The Scots paid dearly for a second innings batting collapse
Scotland tumbled to a seven-wicket defeat in the ICC Intercontinental Cup final against Afghanistan in Dubai. Resuming their second innings at 64-6 on day three, the Scots were soon 82 all out - setting the Afghans a target of 124 for victory. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad was in superb form with an unbeaten knock of 56 as they coasted to the win with seven wickets to spare. Scotland captain Gordon Drummond said they were punished for poor batting. The Scots, resuming on 64-6, were unable to stay at the crease for any length of the time as Afghanistan polished off the lower order within 45 minutes. Mirwais Ashraf claimed three quick wickets and Hamid claimed Richie Berrington to take his haul for the final to eight wickets.  | We just didn't back up our second innings with the bat and it cost us Scotland captain Gordon Drummond |
Matthew Parker dismissed Karim Sadiq (7) early in the chase after Neil McCallum caught the opener. But Shahzad and Shabir Noori added a quick 55 as Afghanistan took control. Noori (35), caught behind by wicketkeeper Colin Smith off the bowling of Ross Lyons, and Narwoz Mangal (17) was trapped lbw by Parker, but it was too little too late for the Scots. Captain Gordon Drummond conceded that Scotland's second innings efforts with the bat fell short of the mark. "The team is obviously very disappointed about losing the final," he said. "We just didn't back up our second innings with the bat and it cost us a bit there and gave our bowlers too much to do in the end. "Credit should go to Matthew Parker at the end, he kept running in but ultimately we didn't get enough runs on the board." Drummond praised bowler Hamid Hassan, who ripped through the Scots batting order with impressive figures of 8 for 84. "He's a fantastic player for them, he runs in all day, he runs in hard and he takes wickets," he said. The Scots won the inaugural tournament for non-Test countries six years ago.
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