KARACHI: Abbottabad, inspired by an unbeaten century from Khalilullah, had the better of the first day’s play in the fourth-round fixture against Multan of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-II cricket tournament on Thursday.

After being put into bat at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad posted 272-9 in the stipulated 83 overs set for first innings. The highlight being the batting of Khalilullah who struck 117 from 162 deliveries while striking 12 boundaries.

Nasir Khan also batted well to score 59 off 79 balls with seven fours and a brace of sixes.

Discarded Pakistan spinner Zulfiqar Babar grabbed three wickets for 98 runs.

Multan were in trouble as they slumped to 27-2 in the 7.4 overs delivered from stumps were drawn for the day.

Bismillah Khan stole the show at the Dring Stadium in Bahawalpur by making a stroke-filled century as Quetta reached 198-3 after bowling out Azad Jammu Kashmir for 107.

Shahzad Tareen continued his wicket-taking form with five for 34 after Azad Jammu Kashmir opted to bat first upon winning the toss.

Quetta then dominated with the bat as Bismillah slammed 14 fours in his undefeated knock of 102 from 148 balls. Shahbaz Khan has made 40 not out off 65 balls with six fours.

In the Pool ‘B’ action on an oppressive day in Karachi, Sialkot were in driving seat against Dera Murad Jamali at the TMC Ground.

With the mercury touching 40 centigrades, DMJ collapsed like ninepins for 146 in 49 overs Sialkot skipper and ex-Pakistan spinner Abdur Rehman chose to bowl first at the toss.

Sialkot ended the day in front at 156-2 in 39 overs with opener Nauman Anwar blasting run-a-ball 57 with six fours and three sixes.

Larkana nullified Hyderabad’s decision to bowl first by posting a respectable 278-8 with Mohammad Urs (unbea­ten 58 off 74 balls, four fours and one six) and Mohsin Raza (52 off 141, five boundaries) playing solid knocks.

Hyderabad replied with 11-0 by close of play.

Close of play scores on Thursday (day one of three):

Fourth round:

Pool ‘A’:

At Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan: ABBOTTABAD 272-9 in 83 overs (Khalilullah 117 not out, Nasir Khan 59, Sajjad Ali 28, Mohsin Rasheed 22; Saeed Anwar Jr 3-56, Zulfiqar Babar 3-98); MULTAN 27-2 in 7.4 overs.

At Dring Stadium, Bahawalpur: AZAD JAMMU KASHMIR 107 in 36.5 overs: (Babar Khaliq 27 not out, Naveed Malik 25; M. Shahzad Tareen 5-34, Shams-ul-Haq 3-9); QUETTA 198-3 in 51 overs (Bismillah Khan 102 not out, Shahbaz Khan 40 not out).

Pool ‘B’:

At National Stadium, Karachi: LARKANA 278-8 in 83 overs (Mohammad Urs 58 not out Mohsin Raza 52, Hamesh Kumar 37, Zafar Ali 36, Faraz Aziz 22; Babar Khan 3-37, Nauman Akbar 2-52, Nauman Ali 2-79)l HYDERABAD 11-0 in 5 overs.

At TMC Ground, Karachi: DERA MURAD JAMALI 146 in 49 overs (Shahbaz Ali 45, Najeebullah 31; Mansoor Amjad 3-39, Usama Mir 2-23, Ammad Butt 2-34, Abdul Rehman 2-39); SIALKOT 156-2 in 39 overs (Nauman Anwar 57, Ali Raza 41 not out, Naeemuddin 32; Rasool Bakhsh 2-65).

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2018