Pacers swing NWFP back into contention

NWFP 222 and 106 for 2 lead Baluchistan 174 (Hussain 61, Shakeel-ur-Rehman 4-41) by 154 runs
Scorecard

North West Frontier Province overcame a poor opening day through a solid second, dismissing Baluchistan for 174 and extending their lead to 154 by stumps at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Leading their push for a maiden title triumph was NWFP's pace attack, led by four-wicket man Shakeel-ur-Rehman and Junaid Khan.

Baluchistan resumed on 24 for 1, behind by 198 runs. Their day started poorly, when Shaleel-ur-Rehman removed opener Usman Tariq for his overnight score of 6 (24 for 2). One run later, Shakeel-ur-Rehman removed Baluchistan's captain, Misbah-ul-Haq for a duck (25 for 3). That was a massive loss, and strikes from Umar Gul and Junaid later reduced Baluchistan to 87 for 6.

Kamran Hussain (61) and wicketkeeper Gulraiz Sadaf (27) added 71, a stand ended when Gul ran out Sadaf (158 for 7). Shakeel-ur-Rehman nipped out two more wickets immediately after to make it 158 for 9 and Gul bowled Hussain to finish off the innings. Shakeel-ur-Rehman finished with 4 for 41, Junaid took 3 for 49, and Gul's two wickets cost him 63.

A second time around, NWFP were given a solid opening. Yasir Hameed atoned for a single-digit first innings with 48 from 52 balls in an opening stand of 74 with Adnan Raees, who was unbeaten on 39 at close. Azharullah and Zulfiqar Babar took a wicket each.