Scotland will play Canada in the final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2004 at Sharjah from 21-23 November after both sides today secured winning draws in their semi-final matches against Kenya and UAE respectively.

 
Kenya 95 and 163 for 4 (Bhudia 79) drew with Scotland 300 for 5 dec and 401 for 7 dec (Coetzer 133*, Smith 93, Wright 58)

With no realistic chance of winning, Kenya batted out to a draw after being set an impossible 607 to win by Scotland on the last day of their semi-final in the ICC Intercontinental Cup at Abu Dhabi.

Amit Bhudia took up over three hours for his 79 to help avoid defeat after John Blain, who has played for Northants, dismissed Malhar Patel from the second ball of the Kenyan innings. Near the end of the day and with no prospect of any result, Kalpesh Patel enlivened proceedings when he decided to hit out and entertain the crowd with a cameo 23, made off 20 balls.

Kenya had begun the day well, dismissing Colin Smith who had added only six to his overnight 87, but that was their only success in a difficult morning. Kyle Coetzer continued where he left off yesterday, and reached his hundred off 200 balls with 13 fours and a six. He put on 122 for the seventh wicket with Craig Wright, Scotland's captain, who made a half-century, and declared after his side had reached 400, with the lead gigantic.

Scotland 300 for 5 decl. and 242 for 5 (Smith 87*, Coetzer 58*, Watson 56,) lead Kenya 95 (Hoffman 5-5) by 447 runs

Scotland dominated the second day at Abu Dhabi to all but eliminate Kenya from progressing to the ICC Intercontinental Cup final. After bowling Kenya out for 95, they decided against enforcing the follow-on despite a lead of 205, and racked up a lead of 447 by the close, with three batsmen making half-centuries.

Kenya had no real answer to the wily medium-pace of the Queensland-born Peter Hoffman, who returned the remarkable figures of 5.4-4-5-5. Kenya subsided to 95 all out, and lost their last six wickets for 21, and now have to force a win on the last day to reach the final.

Lameck Onyango provided some cheer for the Kenyans when he removed Douglas Lockhart with the first ball of Scotland's second innings, and at one point they were 41-4, but Ryan Watson and Colin Smith, the wicketkeeper, consolidated with a hundred partnership before Watson was bowled by Rageb Aga, the Kenyan captain, for 56. Kyle Coetzer came in and made a fluent fifty while Smith closed in on his hundred: both remained undefeated at the close.

A superb 146 by Fraser Watts put Scotland in a strong position at the end of the first day at Abu Dhabi. At the close, Kenya were 23 for 1 in reply to Scotland’s 300 for 5 declared.

Scotland won the toss and elected to bat with Watts and Douglas Lockhart (44) giving them a solid start, reaching 93 for 0 at lunch. Watts looked uncertain at the start, surviving two confident shouts for leg-before as well as a leg-side stumping by Abeed Janmohamed off the impressive Kalpesh Patel which was extremely close.

Although Lockhart fell straight after the resumption, Scotland pressed ahead, with Cedric English (22) and Gavin Hamilton (13) supporting Watts as he approached his hundred. The key stand came as Ryan Watson (57) helped Watts add 118 for the fourth wicket, quashing Kenya's hopes of containing Scotland to a modest score. Both batsmen perished in the quest for quick runs in a bid give their bowlers a few overs at Kenya before the close.

The tactic worked, as Malhar Patel was bowled by Asim Butt shortly before stumps. In an inexperienced Kenyan side, much will depend on Ravindu Shah who was still there with 11 not out at the close.

Kenya 23 for 1 trail Scotland 300 for 5 dec (Watts 146, Watson 57) by 277 runs
Points: Scotland - 6 batting, 0.5 bowling; Kenya - 2.5 bowling

Scotland 300 for 5 decl. and 242 for 5 (Smith 87*, Coetzer 58*, Watson 56,) lead Kenya 95 (Hoffman 5-5) by 447 runs

Scotland dominated the second day at Abu Dhabi to all but eliminate Kenya from progressing to the ICC Intercontinental Cup final. After bowling Kenya out for 95, they decided against enforcing the follow-on despite a lead of 205, and racked up a lead of 447 by the close, with three batsmen making half-centuries.

Kenya had no real answer to the wily medium-pace of the Queensland-born Peter Hoffman, who returned the remarkable figures of 5.4-4-5-5. Kenya subsided to 95 all out, and lost their last six wickets for 21, and now have to force a win on the last day to reach the final.

Lameck Onyango provided some cheer for the Kenyans when he removed Douglas Lockhart with the first ball of Scotland's second innings, and at one point they were 41-4, but Ryan Watson and Colin Smith, the wicketkeeper, consolidated with a hundred partnership before Watson was bowled by Rageb Aga, the Kenyan captain, for 56. Kyle Coetzer came in and made a fluent fifty while Smith closed in on his hundred: both remained undefeated at the close.