ABERDEEN, Scotland - Scotland defeated Canada by 29 runs in the opening match of the 2009-10 ICC Intercontinental Cup cricket competition after the visitors were bowled out in their second innings Saturday.
Canada came into Day 3 of the four-day match needing 243 runs in its second innings for a victory, but the entire team was bowled out for 213 in the 78th over, ending the match a day early.
The victory gave Scotland 20 points from the match and helped it retain its unbeaten run against Canada in the four-day format. The two teams will now play two one-day internationals in Aberdeen July 7-8.
Sandeep Jyoti was the top scorer for Canada with 47 runs, while Shaheed Keshvani (34) and Geoff Barnett (31) were the other major contributors.
For Scotland, wickets were evenly shared between Richie Berrington (two wickets, 20 runs allowed), Moeeb Iqbal (2-31), Calum MacLeod (2-36) and Jan Stander (2-48).
Canada started slow as Scotland collected four quick wickets while allowing just 60 runs.
Jyoti, who struck seven fours, partnered with Khurram Chohan (28) for 64 runs for the fifth wicket to put Canada back on track.
But after Jyoti was retired with the score 125-5, Canada lost Chohan and captain Umar Bhatti in a space of 23 balls to be reduced to 133-7.
Wicketkeeper Ashif Mulla (27) and Keshvani kept the Canadians in the hunt by amassing 42 runs for the eighth wicket.
The departure of Mulla made the scorecard read 175-8 and brought Barnett back on the wicket. The 25-year-old left-hander, together with Keshvani, took the score to 198 before Keshvani later was run out to leave Canada still requiring 45 for victory with last pair at bat.
Barnett tried his best to bridge the gap but was finally retired with Canada still 29 runs short.
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