Misbah thwarts NBP's desperate bid

Test batsman Misbah-ul-Haq played a sterling knock as Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) inched towards a semifinal berth in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Cricket Championship at National Stadium on Thursday.

By close of an enthralling third day's play in this quarterfinal, KRL led by 185 runs with six wickets still standing after National Bank of Pakistan (NBP)'s left-arm fast bowler Zahid Saeed grabbed three wickets in 26 balls at the start of KRL's second innings.

Having obtained a slender but vital 16-run lead on the first innings, KRL lost Mohammad Ramzan, who carried his bat for 110 in the first innings, Saeed Anwar Junior and Intikhab Alam before Misbah joined Saeed bin Nasir to restore parity in a fourth-wicket partnership of 89.

All three of Zahid's victims were out in almost identical fashion, taken behind by Test wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal. Kamran, however, blotted his excellent work by giving KRL skipper Ali Naqvi a life in the final hour of the day. This error may cost NBP dearly on the last day.

NBP are certain to be without Imran Nazir's services on Friday. Imran badly gashed his right hand while fielding in the slips. The injury necessitated a couple of stitches.

One failed to understand the logic behind Imran standing close to the bat. Normally in Tests and One-day Internationals he has had been fielding in the point region, where he is arguably the best fieldsman in the country.

Misbah continued his prolific run with the willow this season by confidently helping himself to 70 not out in almost three hours. Unperturbed by several unnecessary appeals by NBP fielders, the upright right-hander displayed the kind of assurance that earned him Pakistan colours not long ago.

Saeed bin Nasir also caught the eye with a fine contribution of 44 before he was harshly adjudged LBW by Test umpire Athar Zaidi. That ball from medium-pacer Mohammad Javed was heading outside the leg-stump.

The 110-minute stand between Saeed and Misbah not only revived KRL's flagging innings but also ensured a tense day's play on Friday when NBP will be pressing for victory against heavy odds.

Misbah, who has so far hit 11 boundaries, holds the key because KRL, currently 169 for four, are still not of the woods at this stage.

Earlier, NBP added 61 more runs to their overnight score of 190 for seven with all-rounder Yasir Arafat taking all three wickets with his brisk medium-pacers to finish with five for 74.

Naumanullah, on whose broad shoulders NBP's hopes rested, scored seven more before he was caught in the slips for 67. Mohammad Javed struck some lusty blows until he was brilliantly held at second slip by Misbah for 34.

Scoreboard

KRL (1st Innings) 267 (Mohammad Ramzan 110 not out; Shabbir Ahmed 5-93);

NATIONAL BANK (1st Innings, overnight 190-7):

Salman Butt c Zulfiqar b Ali Naqvi 13

Hanif-ur-Rehman c Misbah b Asif 6

Shahid Anwar lbw b Asif 10

Naumanullah c Ramzan b Yasir 67

Sajid Ali c Yasir b Ali Naqvi 4

Imran Nazir c Zulfiqar b Yasir 21

Kamran Akmal c Intikhab b Asif 49

Imran Javed c Saeed Jr b Yasir 10

Mohammad Javed c Misbah b Yasir 34

Zahid Saeed not out 12

Shabbir Ahmed c Zulfiqar b Yasir 5

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-12, W-1, NB-6) 20

TOTAL (all out, 102 overs) 190

FALL OF WKTS: 1-10, 2-31, 3-31, 4-46, 5-67, 6-158, 7-185, 8-208, 9-233.

BOWLING: Jaffar Nazir 12-1-38-0 (1nb); Mohammad Asif 32-12-49-3 (1nb); Yasir Arafat 24-3-74-5 (4nb), 1w); Ali Naqvi 25-12-42-2; Naeem Akhtar 8-2-35-0.

KRL (2nd Innings):

Mohammad Ramzan c Kamran b Zahid 1

Saeed Anwar Jr c Kamran b Zahid 2

Intikhab Alam c Kamran b Zahid 9

Saeed bin Nasir lbw b M. Javed 44

Misbah-ul-Haq not out 70

Ali Naqvi not out 21

EXTRAS (LB-7, W-5, NB-10) 22

TOTAL (for four wkts, 50 overs) 169

FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-9, 3-30, 4-119.

BOWLING (to-date): Shabbir Ahmed 14-2-51-0 (1nb, 1w); Zahid Saeed 14-2-39-3 (4nb); Mohammad Javed 12-0-40-1 (3nb); Imran Javed 10-1-32-0 (2nb)