Punjab sense big win

Punjab sensed a huge win after enforcing the follow-on on Sindh, later grabbing three more wickets in their second innings on the third day at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday.

Sindh, after making 340 in their first innings - which saw them being enforced the follow on -- were looking to avoid an innings defeat after Punjab made a massive 576, were reeling on 118 for the loss of three wickets in their second innings. Punjab continued their dominance and showed good discipline in their bowling department, grabbing ten wickets in the day's play.

Resuming the third day's play on 155 for 3, Sindh lost wickets at regular intervals after Khurram Manzoor, who added just seven to his overnight score of 75, got out to Sohail Tanvir's bowling. Captain Faisal Iqbal (54), wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed (66) and Fawad Alam (34) chipped in with good contributions but were unable to save their team from the follow-on. Left-arm spinner Babar Naeem, who took 4 for 64, was the pick of the bowlers while Sohail Tanvir, after his magnificent batting performance, took 3 for 72.

Sindh were in trouble after they lost their topscorer from the first innings, Khurram Manzoor, with the score on 18. Faisal Athar, who didn't get going in the first innings, started to blossom but was lbw by Bilal Khilji three short of his fifty. Sohail Tanvir got on the act once again as he took another important wicket, this time of Naumanullah, who scored just 6.

**********

Imran Farhat made a scintillating 157 for Habib Bank Limited (HBL) as they posted 393 in their first innings in reply to Khan Research Laboratories' (KRL) score of 374 on the third day of their four-day at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Sports Complex Stadium in Karachi. By stumps, KRL reached 55 for 1.

Resuming their overnight score of 204 for the loss of three wickets, the HBL batsmen dominated the proceedings early in the day. Farhat made his presence felt after being dropped out of the Pakistan World Cup squad and added 48 more to his overnight score of 109.

He fell to Saeed Ajmal's bowling who captured four wickets in the innings. His other victims were Taufeeq Umar (33), Hasan Raza (28) and Khaqan Arsal (26).

Ashar Zaidi was the pick of the bowlers who also took four wickets giving away just 62 runs. Aftab Alam made a fifty (57) before falling to Abdur Rauf. Jafar Nazir took one wicket too when he showed Asim Kamal (43) way to pavilion.