Afghanistan collected six points for securing a 69-run first innings against Ireland as their ICC Intercontinental Cup 2009-10 match headed for a high scoring draw in Dambulla on Saturday.

Afghanistan, replying to Ireland’s 405, was dismissed for 474 after adding 211 runs in 79 overs to its overnight score of 263-3 on the penultimate day of the four-day first-class match.

When play ended, Ireland was 39-0 and still trailing Afghanistan by 30 runs.

Mohammad Shahzad and Shabir Noori resumed their innings at the overnight scores of 60 and 44, respectively. Shahzad was the first batsman out when he was caught at the wicket off Andre Botha. Shahzad departed after scoring a career-best 88 with his 121-ball knock including 15 fours.

Together with Shabir, Shahzad added 147 runs for the third wicket. But after Shahzad returned to the dressing room at the score of 325, Shabir followed him 17 runs later when he became one of the three victims of Andrew White.

Shabir was a model of concentration and application as he spent nearly five-and-a-half at the wicket during which he received 234 balls out of which 10 were hit for fours.

With half the side back in the dressing room and Afghanistan requiring another 64 runs for the first innings lead, Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Stanikzai (39) got together to take their side past Ireland’s total.

The 72-run sixth wicket partnership ended when Asghar fell to Trent Johnston but Nabi and Samiullah Shenwari (19) made Ireland toil for another 46 minutes before Samiullah returned to the hut after putting on 39 runs for the seventh wicket.

Nabi’s innings finally ended when he was caught by John Mooney off White after scoring 127-ball 64 that included four fours and two sixes.

With the match likely to end in a draw, defending champion Ireland will stay in sixth spot on 12 points while Afghanistan will jump three places to share the top spot with Scotland on 29 points. While this is Afghanistan’s third match, Scotland will play its third match in the tournament on Monday when it goes head to head with Kenya in Nairobi.

Scores in brief:

Ireland 405 all out, 98 overs (William Porterfield 78, John Mooney 58 not out, Gary Wilson 53, Niall O’Brien 66, Andrew White 43, Alex Cusack 39; Samiullah Shenwari 4-75, Hameed Hasan 3-91) and 35-0, 14 overs

Afghanistan 474 all out, 153.2 overs (Mohammad Shahzad 88, Shabir Noori 85, Nowroz Mangal 84, Mohammad Nabi 64, Noor Ali 53; Andrew White 4-99, Andre Botha 3-44)