KARACHI: Umar Amin stroked an undefeated century on Saturday to help the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) collect 290-5 in their first innings against Multan Tigers on the opening day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship Gold League tie in Multan.

The Pakistan left-hander, who made a duck in the T20 International and 19 in the final ODI against Australia rece­ntly, scored 101 (186 balls, 15 boundaries) while sharing two productive partnerships after PQA captain Khalid Latif decided to bat first upon winning the toss at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

Umar, who turned 25 on Thursday, came to the crease with his team struggling at 63-3, but together with Faraz Ali (73 off 109, 12 fours) he put on 114 before ex-Test wicket-keeper Mohammad Salman (40) arrived to partner him in the unbroken stand which is worth 94 thus far with Umar completing his 10th first-class century.

Rawalpindi Rams, for a change enjoyed themselves after succumbing to an innings defeat against UBL last Wednesday, by reaching 281-9 against National Bank at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

After being asked to bat first, the Rams made a decent beginning with openers Shoaib Nasir (55 off 97, nine boundaries) and skipper Babar Naeem (33) giving their side an 86-run start. Naved Malik (53 off 66, nine fours and one six) and Usman Saeed (48 off 120, five fours) consolidated the innings by putting on 68 for the fourth wicket.

The bowlers were on song at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad where dramatically no less than 20 wickets tumbled in the game between Islamabad Leopards and UBL.

After being sent in to bat by Leopards skipper Imad Wasim, the bankers were shot out for 95 inside 33 overs. At one point they were reeling at 53-8 but tailender Rumman Raees Khan struck a career-best unbeaten 43 (36 balls, five boundaries) to give the abysmal total some respectability.

Apart from Rumman, just opener Umair Khan (12) and Naved Sarwar (14) got into double figures.

The damage was inflicted mostly by seamer Mudassar Ali who grabbed five wickets for 24 in 9.5 overs with new-ball partners Shehzad Azam Rana and Hamza Nadeem taking two wickets each.

The Leopards then found the going tough as they fell apart for 151 in 42 overs with only Ali Sarfraz (41 off 49 balls six fours), Faizan Riaz (37) and all-rounder Sarmad Bhatti (46 not out off 79, eight boundaries) managing meaningful scores.

Off-spinner Junaid Ilyas, son of former first-class cricketer and now match referee Ilyas Khan, snared 4-27 — the 23-year-old’s best analysis in six first-class appearances — with paceman Rumman (3-28) and Adil Raza (3-58) sharing the remaining wickets.

United Bank then faced a maiden over in their second essay before stumps were drawn for the day.

Lahore Lions, boosted by opener Arsalan Arshad (82 off 192 balls, 11 fours) and a sixth-wicket partnership of 65 between Salman Agha (56 off 125, five fours) and wicket-keeper Kashif Mahmood (35), reached 226 all out in their first innings after ZTBL captain Shoaib Malik chose to field first at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Pakistan paceman Sohail Tanvir claimed five wickets for 42 runs in 13.5 overs with Malik chipping with 2-51 in 23 overs with his off-spinners.

ZTBL will begin their reply on Sunday.

Wapda continued their excellent form by bundling out Peshawar Panthers for only 109 in their first innings at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar after choosing to field first at the toss.

Barring Mohammad Idrees (51 off 69, nine boundaries) it was hazardous going for the Panthers batsmen as the pace trio of Azhar Attari (2-30), Waqas Maqsood (4-31 in 14 overs) and Mohammad Ali Bhutta (4-29 in 12.3 overs) sharing the wickets.

By stumps Wapda had already moved ahead at 140-2, thanked to an unfinished partnership of 126 between opener Iftikhar Ahmed (74 off 121, eight fours) and Ayaz Tasawwar (52 off 138, five fours).

Meanwhile, start of the fixture between Karachi Dolphins and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited at the National Stadium, situated in the heart of the city, has been delayed by a day because of a political rally organised by the Pakistan Peoples Party here on Saturday.

Close of play scores on Saturday (day one of four):

At Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan: PORT QASIM AUTHORITY 290-5 in 88 overs (Umar Amin 101 not out, Faraz Ali 73, Mohammad Salman 40 not out; Mohammad Rameez 2-71) vs MULTAN TIGERS.

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore: LAHORE LIONS 226 in 88.5 overs (Arsalan Arshad 82, Salman Agha 56; Sohail Tanvir 5-42, Shoaib Malik 2-51) vs ZTBL.

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: RAWALPINDI RAMS 281-9 in 89.3 overs (Shoaib Nasir 55, Naved Malik 53, Usman Saeed 48; Zia-ul-Haq 3-49, Adnan Rasool 3-100, Hammad Azam 2-18) vs NATIONAL BANK.

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: UNITED BANK 95 in 32.5 overs (Rumman Raees Khan 43 not out; Mudassar Ali 5-24, Hamza Nadeem 2-17, Shehzad Azam Rana 2-48) and 0-0 in 1 over; ISLAMABAD LEOPARDS 151 in 42 overs (Sarmad Bhatti 46 not out, Ali Sarfraz 41; Junaid Ilyas 4-27, Rumman Raees Khan 3-28, Adil Raza 3-58).

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar: PESHAWAR PANTHERS 109 in 34.2 overs (Mohammad Idrees 51; Mohammad Ali Bhutta 4-29, Waqas Maqsood 4-31, Azhar Attari 2-30); WAPDA 140-2 in 45 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 74 not out, Ayaz Tasawwar 52 not out).

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2014