Salman spins Islamabad into trouble

Karachi, Jan 3: Salman Fazal bowled Karachi Blues into a strong position on the second day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Grade-I Cricket Championship match against Islamabad here on Wednesday.

Islamabad were in dire straits at 88 for five in reply to Karachi Blues' first innings score of 370. The visitors still require 133 runs to avoid the followon. Zaheer Abbasi (11) and wicket-keeper Mohammad Shahbaz (5) survived until stumps after Islamabad had lost their top batsmen for 75 runs.

Slow left-armer Salman was Islamabad's tormentor, spinning his way to four for 27 in 16 overs. Salman, who bowled unchanged, took all his wickets in a superb 53-ball spell, conceding only 14 runs.

Salman started the slide after off-spinner Tabish Nawab had left-handed opener Ashar Zaidi (10) slicing a catch to Asim Kamal at point. Naveed Ahmed (19), debutant Aqeel Mukhtar (15), Asif Ali Syed (9) fell to close-in catches while skipper Bilal Asad (10) was bowled.

Earlier, all-rounder Mohammad Javed was unfortunate to miss a well-deserved century by just 10 runs after Karachi Blues had resumed at 242 for five.

Javed, who was 29 overnight, was out to the final delivery before lunch with the score on 338 when he was bowled behind his legs by Anwaar-ul-Haq. His 213-minute knock of 90 included 10 fours. He faced 123 balls.

Wicket-keeper Ahmed Zeeshan Malik also played an invaluable hand during which he put on 79 for the seventh wicket with Javed in 137 minutes. Ahmed was ninth out to a splendid catch at square leg by substitute Rauf Akbar. His 47 off 140 balls in 157 minutes was laced with three boundaries.

Asim Kamal added only four to his overnight score of 49 before he was caught behind. The sixth wicket partnership between the left-handed Asim and Javed realized 90 runs in 157 minutes.

Leg-spinner Anwaar-ul-Haq, 19, marked his first-class debut by picking up four for 98 in 40.2 overs. Left-arm medium-pacer Stephen John also took four wickets, giving away 73 runs in 26 overs.