Peshawar storm into Quaid Trophy final

Peshawar qualified for next month's Quaid Trophy Grade-I final with a clinical annihilation of a disappointing Sheikhupura on the second afternoon of the four-day encounter at Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar Tuesday.

Sheikhupura succumbed to an innings and 78-run loss with the irresistible Fazle Akbar and young left-arm speedster Waqar Ahmed sending the visitors crashing to a paltry 65 all out in their second innings in only 94 minutes after a remarkable recovery by Peshawar's lower-order batting.

Peshawar made the final by topping Group-II with 72 points against Sheikhupura ended up with 60. Test discard Imran Nazir was unable to bat in Sheikhupura's innings for unspecified reasons.

Fast bowler Fazle Akbar, who has been out of favour with the national selectors at the moment, claimed three for 25 to end the match with excellent figures of seven for 81. The leading wicket-taker in the current is seven shy of reaching the coveted 100-wicket mark.

Waqar Ahmed, meanwhile, has now picked up 74 scalps this season. Earlier, Peshawar, who won their sole title in 1998-99, took an unexpected first innings lead of 143 as their last three wickets combined to add 187 runs.

Taimur Khan, who resumed at 47 in Peshawar's overnight total of 138 for seven, fell quickly after scoring eight more runs.

Arshad Khan, 11 overnight, however, found a reliable partner in fellow ex-Test man Kabir Khan. The pair added 92 for the ninth wicket before Arshad departed for a 132-ball 59, scored in 156 minutes.

Kabir, better known for his left-arm pace bowling, finished with an unbeaten 66 off 135 deliveries in 167 minutes while Fazle Akbar contributed 23. The two right-handers were involved in a last wicket partnership of 56 in 43 minutes.