LAHORE, Nov 26: Devastating bowling by paceman Abdur Rauf brought Balochistan in sight of victory against the NWFP in the RBS Pentangular Cup final after an eventful third day’s play at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Wednesday.
Rauf, who took five for 72 in the first innings, followed up with five for 63 – 10 for 135 in the match – as the NWFP were all out for 223 in their second innings to leave Balochistan requiring a gettable target of 272.
With two days still remaining in the final, Balochistan have ample time on their side although given that it has been so far a low-scoring match, the chase could become difficult if the NWFP bowlers strike early on Thursday.
However, openers Shoaib Khan Junior (22) and Usman Tariq (4) managed to survive 10 overs to carry Balochistan to 33 without loss at stumps, which means they now need another 239 to claim their first trophy.
At the start of play, the NWFP held all aces with an overall advantage of 154 with eight wickets standing. But Rauf led a great comeback from Balochistan as the NWFP lost the remaining wickets for the addition of just 117 runs.
Rauf made the initial breakthrough when he had overnight batsman Wajid Ali leg before wicket without any addition to the overnight tally of 106 for two. Bilal Khilji then accounted for Shoaib Khan Senior, who was caught by Zulfiqar Babar for 12. The NWFP went to lunch at 137-4.
After the interval Rauf came into his own as he sent back Aftab Khan (35, four fours) and Zulfiqar Jan, the top-scorer in the first innings with 83, for a duck with both of them caught by Balochistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.
Adnan Raees, who resumed his innings at the overnight score of 39, was the key wicket to fall as Rauf claimed his fourth victim, clean bowling the left-handed opener for a nervous 98 – a knock that spanned 358 minutes and included 10 boundaries. After Adnan’s dismissal at 221, NWFP added only two more runs as the last three wickets fell quickly. Rauf captured his 10th wicket of the match by having Yasir Shah caught for no score.
Kamran Hussain took the wickets of the NWFP skipper Umar Gul and Shakeel-ur-Rehman to finish with two for 39.
Scoreboard
NWFP (1st Innings) 222 (Zulfiqar Jan 83; Abdul Rauf 5-72).
Balochistan (1st Innings) 174 (Kamran Hussain 61; Shakeel-ur-Rehman 4-41).
NWFP (2nd Innings, overnight 106-2):
Yasir Hameed b Azharullah 48
Adnan Raees b Rauf 98
Riffatullah Mohmand c Misbah b Zulfiqar 16
Wajid Ali lbw b Rauf 1
Shoaib Khan Sr c Zulfiqar b Bilal 12
Aftab Khan c Misbah b Rauf 35
Zulfiqar Jan c Misbah b Rauf 0
Umar Gul b Kamran 7
Yasir Shah c Saeed Anwar Jr b Rauf 0
Shakeel-ur-Rehman c Gulraiz b Kamran 0
Junaid Khan not out 0
EXTRAS (B-0, LB-2, W-4) 6
TOTAL (all out, 88.2 overs) 223
FALL OF WKTS: 1-74, 2-95, 3-106, 4-137, 5-214, 6-214, 7-221, 8-223, 9-223.
BOWLING: Abdur Rauf 26-8-63-5; Kamran Hussain 16.2-7-39-2; Bilal Khilji 14-6-28-1 (1w); Azharullah 16-1-61-1 (3w); Zulfiqar Babar 16-2-30-1.
BALOCHISTAN (2nd Innings):
Shoaib Khan Jr not out 22
Usman Tariq not out 4
EXTRAS (LB-6, NB-1) 7
TOTAL (for no wkt, 10 overs) 33
BOWLING (to-date): Umar Gul 4-0-9-0 (1nb); Shakeel-ur-Rehman 2-0-12-0; Junaid Khan 3-1-8-0; Yasir Shah 1-0-1-0.
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