Quaid-i-Azam Trophy: All-round performance by Shoaib Malik

Lahore, Dec 12: Shoaib Malik celebrated his return to Pakistan senior cricket team by helping the Pakistan Reserves who humbled Sargodha by an innings and 121 runs with his brilliant all-round display on third day of the four-day Quaid-i-Azam Cricket Trophy match at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Resuming at his overnight score of 58, Shoaib Malik went on to hit an unbeaten knock of 101 in the morning to bolster the Pakistan Reserves team's first innings total to 476 for nine declared. Later, Shoaib Malik, along with medium-pacers Kashif Raza and Yasir Arafat, destroyed the Sargodha's second innings for 195.

Shoaib Malik captured five wickets for 30 in his 15 lethal overs. It was a display of controlled off-spin bowling by the teenager. He removed Salman Shahid (14), Misbah-ul-Haq (1),Muhammad Hasnain (0), Zameer-ul-Hasan (4) and Shahid Mahmood (23with 3 fours). Kashif took three for 83 and Yasir had two for 29.

On third morning of the match, Shoaib Malik batted superbly to complete his century in 148 minutes. He faced 124 balls. Sargodha's Umair conceded 166 runs for his four wickets while Muhammad Shafiq gave away 130 runs for his three and Murtaza Ali 85 for his two scalps. Captain Faisal Iqbal declared the Pakistan Reserves' first innings closed at 476 for 9 soon after completion of Shoaib's century.

Sargodha's second innings began on a confident note as openers Muhammad Hafeez (69 in 124 minutes with 11 fours and a six) and Salman Shahid scored 93 in 110 minutes before being separated. Once Shoaib Malik clean bowled the latter there was no looking back for the Pakistan Reserves bowlers.

In the closing stages of the innings, resistance was put up by Shahid Mahmood (23 with 3 fours) and Tariq Munir (56 off 58 balls with 9 fours) when they added 76 runs for the eighth wicket stand in 71 minutes. Shoaib had Shahid Mahmood leg before wicket while Yasir had Tariq Munir caught by Taufiq, folding the Sargodha innings for 195.

Lanky paceman Shabbir Ahmad could bowl only four as he developed strain in his left thigh muscle. Shabbir Ahmad said that he felt pain in his left thigh so he did not continue bowling.

There is a minor strain in left thigh muscle of Shabbir Ahmad. It is not serious but we asked him not to continue bowling as the Pakistan Reserves team was on its way to a convincing win, team coach Mohsin Kamal said.

As a precautionary measure, Shabbir will not play in the next game.