Quaid-i-Azam Trophy: Rawalpindi hold ABL to a draw

Islamabad, Nov 30: The Pool 'B' four-day Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match between Rawalpindi and Allied Bank ended in a draw at the Pindi Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.

The home team, resuming this morning at 204 for four and just 85 runs ahead, preferred batting practice to collect 429. That gave the bankers nearly an impossible victory target of 311 from 23 overs. When play ended seven overs before schedule, Allied Bank were 76 for three in 16 overs with Ejaz Ahmed Jr on 49.

Rawalpindi's last six batsmen contributed 225 runs before the innings closed five minutes into tea interval.

Overnight pair of wicket-keeper batsman Ahmed Said and debutante Pervaiz Aziz stretched their fifth wicket partnership to 123 runs in 146 minutes before being separated.

The partnership ended when Said's patience ran out and he was caught behind off Mohammad Zahid. Said's sedate 189-ball 59 included 10 boundaries. he occupied the crease for 246 minutes.

Debutante Aziz notched up his maiden half century before falling to Ataur Raheman after scoring 67. Aziz, who made 22 Rawalpindi's first innings 210, smashed 12 fours. He faced 116 balls in 146 minutes.

Rawalpindi's second century runs came when Irfan Bhatti (70 off 113 ball) and Pervez Iqbal (35 off 80 balls) added 105 runs for the eighth wicket. Irfan's entertaining innings included 14 boundaries. There were 53 extras in Rawalpindi's total of 429.

For ABL, left-arm spinner Mohammad Zahid snapped up four wickets on the final day to finish with five for 63. Ataur Rehman grabbed three for 110.