Rashid and Aqib sparkle for ABL

Pakistan wicket-keeper Rashid Latif celebrated his inclusion in the World Cup squad by snapping up four catches as Allied Bank Limited (ABL) dominated the opening day's play in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Group-II match against Karachi Whites.

After being sent bat by Rashid, the ABL skipper, Karachi Whites failed to capitalised on a solid start provided by openers Agha Sabir and Maisam Hasnain on a placid track at the National Stadium.

The reigning champions eventually capitulated for 195 in their first innings with former Test pacer Aqib Javed taking four for 51.

The bankers then reached 70 for two in 14 overs at stumps with Bilal Asad (39) and night-watchman Arshad Khan (3) at the crease.

Play was held up for 36 minutes in the first session by poor light after the match started in overcast conditions. But the time lost was covered up after tea in bright sunshine.

Skipper Maisam and Sabir did quite well and almost survived the opening session against the pace trio of Aqib Javed, Tanvir Ahmed and Ata-ur-Rehman.

Aqib struck on the stroke of lunch when he induced Sabir (27) to edge a delivery to Rashid with the total on 61. Soon after the break, Aqib trapped Wasim Naeem in front for four.

Maisam also perished when he fell to off-spin of Arshad for 31.

Asim Kamal, the dusky left-hander, batted doggedly for 147 minutes to top-score with a 108-ball 32.

In between, Mohammad Masroor played some spanking strokes to score 27 off 38 balls before he was magnificently held by Rashid, diving low to right in front of first slip. Two balls later in the same over, Tanvir clean bowled Fahadullah for a duck. Thereafter, wickets fell at regular intervals. Aqib was ably assisted by by Tanvir who captured three for 53 and Ata, another ex-Test man, two for 45.

KARACHI WHITES (1st Innings):

Agha Sabir c Rashid b Aqib 27

Maisam Hasnain c Wajahat b Arshad 31

Wasim Naeem lbw b Aqib 4

Asim Kamal c Rashid b Ata 32

M. Masroor c Rashid b Tanvir 27

Fahadullah b Tanvir 0

Amin-ur-Rehman lbw b Tanvir 15

Tahir Khan c Ata b Aqib 15

Rizwan Saeed lbw b Ata 13

Owais Athar not out 1

Nasir Khan c Rashid b Aqib 5

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-9, W-1, NB-11) 25

TOTAL (all out, 57.3 overs) 195

FALL OF WKTS: 1-61, 2-67, 3-81, 4-120, 5-120, 6-152, 7-167, 8-181, 9-189.

BOWLING: Aqib Javed 17.3-3-51-4 (5nb); Tanvir Ahmed 18-4-53-3; Ata-ur-Rehman 12-3-45-2 (6nb, 1w); Arshad Khan 10-2-33-1.

ALLIED BANK (1st Innings):

Usman Tariq lbw b Owais 5

Bilal Asad not out 39

Wajahatullah Wasti b Rizwan 16

Arshad Khan not out 3

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-2, NB-3) 7

TOTAL (for two wkts, 14 overs) 70

FALL OF WKTS: 1-17, 2-65.

TO BAT: Naved Latif, Ijaz Ahmed Jr, Aamir Hanif, Rashid Latif, Tanvir Ahmed, Ata-ur-Rehman, Aqib Javed.

BOWLING (to-date): Nasir Khan 6-0-26-0 (2w); Owais Athar 6-0-24-1 (1nb); Rizwan Saeed 2-0-18-1 (2nb).

Summarised scores of other Group-II matches:

*At Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan:

PAK PWD 270-6 (Afsar Nawaz 116 not out, Riaz Shaikh 88 not out; Azhar Abbas 4-73) v MULTAN.

*Bahawalpur Stadium, Bahawalpur:

BAHAWALPUR 241 (Bilal Rana 65, Hasnain Raza 43, Maqsood Akbar 32, Ahsan Raza 31; Rizwan Ahmed 6-88, Athar Laeeq 4-58) v DADU.