Pakistan Reserves take 1st innings lead

Islamabad, Dec 23: One down Taufeeq Umer slammed a tenacious 176, studded with 24 boundaries and a six, helped the Pakistan Reserves take a 177-run first innings lead against Rawalpindi in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The Pakistan Reserves first innings closed at 377 in 101.4 overs just before close of second day's play. But, Rawalpindi'smorale was left sapless when opener Nouman Ashraf was brilliantly held at the first slip by Bazid Khan off pacer Fazle Akbar for four on the third ball of host's second innings. Opener Munawar Abbasi was yetto face a ball.

They Reserves resumed their innings at the overnight total of 66 for 4 and lost their skipper Humayun Farhat (5) caught behind by Mohammad Zubair off Azhar Bhatti with the addition of one run to the total. Rawalpindi's hopes of getting the tourists within their total of 200 began to disappear especially when their strike bowler Yasir Ashfaq stretched a back muscle after the first ball he bowled and did not return to the field.

Host's woes were multiplied by a chanceless innings of 176 by overnight batsman Taufeeq Umer. Taufeeq, who is selected in Pakistan Youth team as an opener, slammed his first century of the season from 135 balls in 193 minutes. It was his second first class hundred, the first was last year against the PIA. Twice this year, Taufeeq remainedunsuccessful to record a hundred with scores of 92 and 70 against Lahore and Peshawar respectively. Both matches were won by the Reserves. Taufeeq's buoyant knock of 176 (232 balls and 302 minutes) came to end when Mohammad Saleem held a low catch at the cover on third attempt off pacer Irfan Bhatti.

Theelegant left-handed batsman sharedthreemajor partnerships. For the sixth wicket Taufeeq and Atiq-uz-zaman (35 off 48 balls, 6x4) added 107 runs in 97 minutes. Another 107 runs were contributed for the seventh wicket with Yasir Arfat who scored 50 off 79, cracking six fours and two sixes in 80 minutesstay at the crease. Yasir was dropped by skipper Salman off Pervaiz Aziz when at 42. For the eighth wicket 64 runs were scored 78 minutes by Taufeeq and Zahid Saeed (20 off 108 balls).

Azhar Bhatti grabbed 2 for 92, Yasir Arfat took 2 for 21.