Quaid-i-Azam Trophy: PIA in driving seat after Shoaib hits 147

Karachi, Nov 7: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) took a firm grip on the second day of their Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship Pool A' match against WAPDA at the UBL Sports Complex here on Sunday.

After making a healthy 334 in their first innings, PIA reduced WAPDA to 95 for four in reply by close of play. WAPDA need another 90 runs to make PIA bat again on a pitch that has started to take appreciable spin.

Two men took honours on Sunday. Shoaib Mohammad, the former Test opener, carved out an unbeaten 147, his second century this season, which went a long way in putting PIA on top. The other hero was WAPDA's young leg-spinner Shafiq Ahmed who bowled magnificently to claim a rich haul of six for 67 in 27.5 overs.

Technically, Shoaib was unable to carry his bat through the entire PIA innings as his marathon 470-minute stay was interspersed by a pulled calf muscle which forced the diminutive 37-year-old right-hander to retire to pavilion with his individual score on 139 after resuming the day on 92.

PIA were then 262 fo five. Shoaib, aided by a runner, returned to the crease at the fall of seventh wicket at 315 and remained undefeated until the end of the innings. His 353-ball knock was laced with just nine fours.

WAPDA are now definitely ruing for letting off Shoaib twice on Saturday. Hasan Adnan was Shoaib's beneficiary on both occasions, dropping catches when the batsman had scored four and 33 respectively.

Shafiq, who went wicketless on Saturday, sliced through the PIA batting in two spells including a remarkable 7.5-over spell which fetched him four wickets for 10 runs.

PIA, who had resumed the day on 208 for three, lost their remaining wickets for 124 runs. That included Zahid Fazal who failed to add to his overnight score of 75.

Off-spinner Farhan Rasheed was other wicket-taker for WAPDA. He finished with three for 111 in 41 overs