Sheikhupura prosper against Karachi Whites

Karachi, Nov 10: Sheikhupura made a mockery of Karachi Whites skipper Asif Mujtaba's decision to field first by closing the opening day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Grade-I Cricket Championship clash at the UBL Sports Complex in a healthy position here on Friday.

The visitors reached 250 for four in their first innings, building on an excellent opening partnership of 142 between Majid Majeed and debutant Tahir Usman.

On a pitch which nothing but a featherbed for the batsmen, Mujtaba's decision is mystifying especially in the sense that the home team has plumbed for three frontline spinners and a solitary pace bowler.

Athar Laeeq, the former Pakistan pacer, will take sometime to get into the groove after coming off a long lay-off. He was awfully rusty in his bowling stride.

As it transpired, the Sheikhupura's openers gratefully accepted the unexpected opportunity to score freely. The first wicket did not fall until the final ball of the extended session of 180 minutes when Majid perished to off-spinner Tahir Khan for a well-compiled 88 off 163 deliveries with 10 fours.

Part-time leg-spin of Hasan Raza got rid of left-handed Mohammad Javed after the lunch-cum-prayers break before Zulfiqar Haider made his present felt.

The 25-year-old bearded leg-spinner, filling in for Danish Kaneria, earlier made an inauspicious entry into first-class cricket by being carted for boundaries off his opening two balls. His bowling action is quite remarkable because it has a mixture of both Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill - the Australian Test champions.

Zulfiqar, who had his fair share of long hops, was fortunate to claims two wickets in his final spell of 9.5 overs because both Usman Akram (bowled behind his legs off an attempted sweep) and Waqar Ahmed Khan (losing his wicket while trying a cut in the day's final over).

Adnan Malik, the slow left-armer, was perhaps, the pick of the bowlers and was desperately unlucky to end the day wicketless. Tahir was steady and bowled the most overs.

Tahir Usman, the right-hander, was a model of concentration as he batted patiently for his unbeaten 83 off 308 balls. His 330-minute stay at the crease was laced with five boundaries.