Quaid-i-Azam Trophy: Aamir Sohail, Rashid rescue ABL

Lahore, Nov 20: Test discards Aamir Sohail and Rashid Latif added 218 runs for the sixth wicket partnership to rescue Allied Bank Limited (ABL) from deep trouble in their first innings on the first day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship tie against Pakistan Reserves at the Qadhafi Stadium on Saturday.

ABL were all out for 329 just minutes before stumps. Pakistan Reserves will start their first innings on Sunday.

After being sent into bat by Pakistan Reserves skipper Taimur Khan, ABL lost five wickets for just 54 as pacemen Shabbir Ahmad and Fazle Akbar bowled with venom. However, skipper Aamir Sohail, leading from the front, slammed a brilliant 164 before he was yorked by Shabbir to lift ABL to 272 for six.

Aamir Sohail displayed his rich repertoire of strokes in his stay of 256 minutes at the crease in which he faced 211 balls and hit 24 exquisitely-timed boundaries.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Rashid Latif continued to bat in his usual style and was finally out for 86 at the total of 326 when he tried to cut a delivery from Yasir Arafat to provide wicket-keeper Humayun Farhat one of his five catches.

Rashid hit 12 fours during his stay of 260 minutes and faced 171 deliveries.

Apart from Sohail and Rashid, the only other ABl batsman to enter double figures was ex-Test paceman Ata-ur-Rahman, who scored 26 in 36 minutes with the help of four fours. Despite being in acute pain after he was hit on the left elbow, he batted bravely.

Earlier, Shabbir started the ABL slide when he clean bowled opener Iqbal Salim (6). Test discard Fazle Akbar then struckthree quick blows to make ABL 47 for four.

Fazle Akbar emerged as the most successful bowler, claiming four for 89, followed by Yasir Arafat, who took three for 67, and Shabbir Ahmad two for 106