Younis delays PIA's victory charge

Test right-hander Younis Khan hit a fine century to salvage Habib Bank's tarnished image as PIA neared a certain victory on the second day of the Patron's Trophy National Cricket Championship Grade-I match at Gaddafi Stadium Thursday.

After PIA had taken a substantial lead of 242, Habib Bank, who made a paltry 27 in their first innings Wednesday, gave a much improved performance in their second outing to reach 298 for nine. Younis batted patiently for 263 minutes in making 117 until he was eighth out at 293 to end a dogged partnership of 78 with skipper Akram Raza. His 160-ball innings was spiced with 17 fours.

There was only one other significant partnership in the innings. Shahid Afridi, batting down the order, caned 51 off 39 deliveries in his familiar whirlwind style of batsmanship while adding 82 with Younis. Akram Raza is holding the fort with a defiant unbeaten 47 off 54 deliveries. He has so far hit six boundaries.

Fazl-e-Akbar, who claimed four wickets in four balls on his way to seven for 13 Wednesday, once proved Habib Bank's main destroyer with five wickets. But his 21.5 overs cost 115 runs.

Test all-rounder Abdur Razzaq the other main wicket-taker in the second innings with a return of three for 102 in 22 overs. Wasim Akram was yet to turn his arm over in the second innings. Earlier, PIA's last three wickets added 47 to the overnight score of 269. Moin Khan fell after adding two more to his 19 while Wasim Akram also perished for 23 after resuming on 17. Mohammad Zahid and Fazl-e-Akbar shared a last wicket stand worth 38 before the latter was caught off Shahid Afridi for 15. Zahid returned with 18 to his name.