Dubai , 5 April 2008Scotland has a slight edge over Namibia after two days of the ICC Intercontinental Cup match at Windhoek with the home side needing 193 more runs for victory with seven wickets in hand.
Scotland began its second innings on Saturday 25 runs ahead of Namibia after what had been a low-scoring first day that saw both sides dismissed for less than 150.
And although the batsmen had a somewhat better time of it on day two, there was always something in it for the bowlers with wickets falling at regular intervals. Qasim Sheikh made 63 and Fraser Watts managed 54 as Scotland was all out for 211, leaving the home side needing 237 for victory.
It was a welcome return to form for the 23-year-old Sheikh as he was on a pair when he went out to bat having been dismissed for a duck the day before. His innings lasted 177 balls and included five boundaries.
Fraser and Sheikh put on 111 for the second wicket and after Nelson had struck in the form of Kola Burger, the wickets came thick and fast with the rest of the team managing just 100 between them. Only Craig Wright (26), batting at nine, managed to get into double figures.
Kola Burger was the pick of the Namibian bowling attack, taking 6-62, including five lbws. He was well supported by Deon Kotze (2-38) and Bjorn Kotze (1-18) as no batsman really dominated out in the middle.
Before the close, Scotland got three wickets as Namibia struggled to 45-3, still needing another 192 to take the points for an outright victory. A lot could rest on the shoulders of Sarel Burger, who is on 26 not out, and captain Louis Burger (9 not out).
There is still plenty of batting to come for Namibia though with Craig Williams, Bjorn Kotze and Nicolaas Scholtz, among others, all capable of knocking off the runs. However, the way the wickets have been falling in the game so far, it could be a tough prospect and a solid start between the two Burgers will be crucial.
And for Scotland , it seems much will depend on the continued good form of John Blain. Having taken five wickets in the first innings, the medium-pacer has snaffled all three in the second innings so far.
The 29-year-old from Edinburgh already has match figures of 8-62 and no one would bet against him getting what will be his first ever 10-wicket haul in a first-class match.
With still two full days remaining in the match, a draw is very much an outside bet unless the rains that have fallen heavily in Windhoek in recent weeks return with a vengeance.
The ICC Intercontinental Cup has quickly grown in stature and profile since its inception three years ago and now the ICC’s premier first-class tournament is an integral part of the Associate Members’ cricket schedule.
Having previously been designed around a two-group, three-day format, the event has evolved into an eight-team, round-robin and truly global tournament featuring four-day cricket which gives those teams who do not play Test cricket the chance to experience the longer form of the game.
Scotland won the first ICC Intercontinental Cup in 2004, beating Canada in the final, while Ireland has been victorious in both events since then, beating Kenya in the 2005 decider and Canada in the 2006-07 event.
The final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08 will take place in November 2008 in Dubai .
ICC MEDIA RELEASE