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Report

Run-hungry Punjab take control

A round-up from the second day of the latest Pentangular Cup matches

Cricinfo staff
13-Nov-2008
Baluchistan 50 for 2 trail Punjab 526 for 8 (Ayub 117, Raza 113, Ali 104, Shehzad 93*) by 476 runs
Scorecard
Punjab took control of their match with a commanding display on the second day. Two more batsmen scored centuries, to add to Adnan Raza's open-day ton, as they piled up 526 before two early wickets increased the pressure on Baluchistan.
Azhar Ali, who slept nervously on 99, moved to his century early in the morning session but couldn't build much further as he fell for 104. But Kamran Hussain's breakthrough was a false dawn for Baluchistan as Mohammad Ayub and Khurram Shehzad increased the pain with a stand of 163.
Ayub moved along at a brisk pace, striking 17 fours and a six, and although Baluchistan made some inroads into the lower order the damage was already done. Shehzad was closing in on becoming the fourth century-maker of the innings, but Mohammad Hafeez declared so his attack could have a dart at the visitors' top order.
For an hour the openers progressed comfortably, however the introduction of spin changed the picture. Hafeez and Abdur Rehman both struck before the close as Baluchistan ended with a huge task ahead of them.
North West 284 for 7 (Rafatullah 93, Shoaib 56) lead Sind 96 by 188 runs
Scorecard
North West extended their advantage to an imposing 188 on another shortened day at Peshawar. The main contributions came from Rafatullah Mohmand and Shoaib Khan jr as the home side set themselves up for a dart at Sind's second innings on the third day.
Mohmand and Khan carried their fourth-wicket stand to 113 before Sohail Khan made the breakthrough by removing Shoaib for 56. However, Aftab Alam offered further solid support to Rafatullah in a partnership worth 66.
Azim Hussain's left-arm spin made two breakthroughs, including shifting Mohmand seven short of his century, although Zulfiqar Jan added to Sind's problems before the early close.