Faisal, Farhan rescue Karachi Blues

Karachi, Nov 16: A century partnership between Faisal Iqbal and Farhan Adil lifted Karachi Blues to 238 for six in their first innings against Peshawar on the opening day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Grade-I Cricket Championship match at the UBL Sports Complex here on Thursday.

Faisal and Farhan put on exactly 100 for the fifth-wicket in 111 minutes after the Blues had lost four wickets for 98 runs.

Faisal, the 18-year-old nephew of former Pakistan captain and present coach Javed Miandad, played some exquisite shots in making 71 off 159 balls. His 191-minute included nine fours. He was the sixth man out when he was caught in the covers.

Farhan also posted his fifty but after making 53 off 99 balls in 111 minutes, he was bowled by slow left-armer Mohammad Aslam Qureshi. Farhan's innings was laced with five hits to the fence.

Aslam, in fact, turned out to be the most successful bowler after Karachi Blues skipper and Test discard Rashid Latif elected to bat first upon winning the toss. Aslam has so far captured four for 60 while Test off-spinner Arshad Khan has claimed two for 89.

Openers Maisam Hasnain and Afsar Nawaz were out in identical fashion after making 17 each.

But Nomanullah (11) and the left-handed Asim Kamal (32 off 50 balls with four fours) were extremely unhappy at being adjudged out to Peshawar captain Arshad Khan. Noman was caught behind by Shoaib Khan while Asim was 'caught' at silly-point by Riffatullah.