Federal Areas collapse after Shakeel five-for
A round-up of the first day of the third-round matches of the Pentangular Cup
Cricinfo staff
06-Nov-2008
Medium-pacer Shakeel-ur-Rehman struck a blow to Federal Areas' chances of moving up the points table by taking five wickets to trigger a collapse that had the visitors struggling at 228 for 8 at the end of day one in Peshawar. Shakeel removed the top three with only 38 on the board. Usman Saeed, the No.6 batsman, battled it out virtually on his own with a three-and-a-half-hour 73 ensured that Federal Areas did not get bowled out under 150. After Saeed's fall to Shakeel, Imad Wasim took on the lead role with a cautious 95-ball 34. At stumps he was batting along with Mohammad Aamer (13) and Federal Areas will hope their partnership will take them past 250.
Sind's decision to field first in Lahore was not a success like NWFP's was in Peshawar. Punjab's openers Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali added 157 together before they could be parted. The openers ensured that their side won't be hit hard by the absence of national players Shoaib Malik, Nasir Jamshed, Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal and Saeed Ajmal, who have been called up to the ODIs against West Indies in Abu Dhabi. Sind certainly missed captain Shahid Afridi, who bowls part-time legspin.
Hafeez's wicket, to Azam Khan, was the only one to fall in the day as Punjab scored at more than three an over. Only one bowler managed to concede less than three an over - Khurram Manzoor whose six overs cost seven runs. Umar Akmal (43) was batting with Azhar at stumps.