Report

Peshawar in control against SNGPL

A round-up of the action from the first day of the fifth round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division Two

Aggressive performances from the top order boosted Peshawar to 304 before Riaz Afridi left Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited struggling on 34 for 2 in a clash of the only two unbeaten sides in Division Two at the Arbab Niaz Stadium. Israrullah (91) and Mohammad Fayyaz (39) put on a century opening stand to lay the platform for their side. Israrullah then put on another 81 with Iftikhar Ahmed (66) and Peshawar were 184 for 1 at that stage. SNGPL's bowlers came back strongly led by 19-year old seamer Adil Raza, who finished with 5 for 98 as Peshawar lost the remaining nine wickets for 120. Imran Khalid finished with 3 for 39.
Karachi Whites recovered from a disastrous start to end the first day on 292 for 7 against Hyderabad at the Niaz Stadium. Mir Ali had rocked the top order with a three-wicket burst with the new ball to leave Karachi tottering at 15 for 4 but captain Akbar-ur-Rehman revived the innings with a patient 70. Mohammad Hasan and Faraz Ahmed put on 69 for the seventh wicket to take Karachi past 200 before Hasan fell after his fifty. Faraz was unbeaten on 83 at stumps, having put on 82 with Mansoor Ahmed.
Quetta were dismissed for 172 against Lahore Ravi at the Gaddafi Stadium after being put in, collapsing from 111 for 3. Taimur Khan (52) and Abid Ali (43) helped Quetta recover after Emmad Ali had struck twice. But seamer Asif Ashfaq and offspinner Waqas Aslam ran through the line-up, claiming 7 for 74 between them. No batsman resisted after Taimur and Abid departed with the last six managing a top score of 14. Lahore Ravi ended on 39 for 1.
Saad Sukhail's maiden first-class hundred carried United Bank Limited to 275 for 9 against Lahore Shalimar at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Sukhail hit 14 fours and was unbeaten on 129 with wicketkeeper Zafar Ali's 44 being the next-highest score. Even as wickets kept falling throughout the day, Sukhail's effort ensured his side reached a respectable total. He had put on 32 for the last wicket with Misbah Khan till stumps. Ali Manzoor was the most successful bowler with 4 for 57 in 22 overs.