Zeeshan shines as honours even

Honours were even on the first day of the National Junior (Under-19) Grade-I Cricket Championship semifinal between Rawalpindi and Lahore Blues Thursday at Rawalpindi Stadium.

Asked to bat first, Rawalpindi capitulated to the off-spin of Zeeshan Safeer who claimed six for 50 as the home side were bundled out for 210 in 69.3 overs.

But the hosts struck back through paceman Saad Altaf who snapped up three wickets to leave Lahore at 40 for three by the close of play in 18 overs.

Earlier, Usman Saeed fell four runs short of a half century, his innings of 46 taking him 79 balls as no other Rawalpindi batsman could make a big contribution, Zeeshan troubling them all with a teasing line and length.