Faisalabad apply the pressure
A round-up of the Pentangular Cup match that took place on April 7 between Faisalabad and Sialkot
08-Apr-2006
Faisalabad set Sialkot a stiff victory target of 389 runs, on the third day of their Pentangular Cup match at Lahore.
By stumps, Sialkot in their run chase reached 25 for the loss of one wicket. Faisalabad, following their emphatic nine-wicket triumph over Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the first round last week, now sense their second win coming their way.
Sialkot resumed at their overnight score of 208 for 7, still needing a further 51 to avert the follow-on. Thanks to a 51-run eighth-wicket stand and another worth 42 for the last wicket, they saved themselves and took their first innings total to 271.
Faisalabad still attained a big first innings lead of 137. In their second outing, they compiled 251 for eight and declared 388 runs ahead to leave Sialkot a rather tough task to conjure up an improbable win.
Tahir Mughal, the Sialkot captain, scored 51 runs off 75 balls with five fours. Asim Butt, following his bowling effort of 6 for 85, scored a rapid 32 off only 19 balls with five fours and a six in a crucial last-wicket partnership with Sarfraz Ahmed.
Faisalabad got off to a flying start in their second innings, putting on 107 for the first wicket with Mohammad Hafeez following his first innings 113 with another important knock of 60, his runs coming off 101 balls with seven fours and a six.