Kotze and Iqbal trade maiden centuries in ICC Intercontinental Cup match in Windhoek

Namibia 314 for 6 (B Kotze 87*, Scholtz 64, Verwey 49*, Soraine 3-54) v Canada
Scorecard

Opener Mohammad Iqbal stroked a maiden first-class century to lead Canada's fight back against Namibia in the ICC Intercontinental Cup match at Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek, Namibia on Friday.

Iqbal, playing his 18th first-class match, was undefeated on 119 as the visitors finished the second day's play at 233-4 after Bjorn Kotze's undefeated career-best 163 helped Namibia to declare its first innings at 480-9.

Canada requires another 48 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Lahore-born 33-year-old Iqbal, who made his first-class debut in Pakistan's domestic circuit way back in 1988/89, has stroked 19 boundaries and a six in his 156-ball knock.

Besides playing some attractive shots on both sides of the wickets, Iqbal was also involved in a rescue act as he put on 149 runs for the fourth wicket with another veteran Arvind Kandappah after Canada had slumped to 83-3.

The partnership ended shortly before the close when 36-year-old Kandappah became debutant Michael Durant's first wicket in first-class cricket. Kandappah scored 60 from 89 balls and his punishing innings included seven fours and three sixes.

Earlier, Namibia resumed its first innings at 314-6 and declared it during the second session of play after playing another 44 overs in which it added 166 runs.

The mainstay of Namibia batting was skipper Kotze who started the day on 87 and remained unconquered after 398 minutes at the crease during which he faced 345 balls and hit 17 fours and a six.

Kotze reached three figures - the first time he has achieved the feat in first-class cricket - from 275 balls with nine fours.

Wicket-keeper Tobias Verwey, who resumed on 49, was out after scoring a 63-ball 61 which was his second half-century in first-class cricket. Kotze and Verwey put on 110 runs for the seventh wicket.

After Verwey became one of the three victims of Canada skipper Sunil Dhaniram, Kotze added another 88 runs for the eighth wicket with Kola Burger who contributed a vital 47 from 53 balls with five fours and two sixes.

Besides Dhaniram, who finished with figures of 3-58, medium-pacer Durand Soraine bagged 3-74.

The ICC Intercontinental Cup has quickly grown in stature and profile since its inception three years ago and now 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 which 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 earlier this year in the 2006/07 event.

The final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007/08 will take place in November 2008 at a venue yet to be decided.