KARACHI: Karachi-based Akbar-ur-Rehman gave Sindh bowlers a taste of their own medicine on Thursday when the veteran right-hander marked his 100th appearance in first-class cricket with an undefeated stroke-filled century as Balochistan amassed 333-5 on the first day of their fifth-round fixture in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy here at the SBP Sports Complex.

A similar story unfolded in the televised game at the National Stadium where Faizan Riaz and Mohammad Nawaz pulverized the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a dazzling double-century partnership, with both crossing the three-figure mark, as Northern collected 371-5.

Meanwhile in the Punjab derby at the UBL Sports Complex, leaders Southern posted 272-5 against Central with skipper Umar Siddique just failing to score a hundred.

Being considered the ‘visitors’, Sindh opted to bowl first since the toss was not contested. But Asad Shafiq was left to rue his wisdom despite his bowlers claiming the first two wickets for 88 runs.

Akbar then joined the left-handed Ali Waqas, who was run out for 46, to put on 66 before Ayaz Tasawwar came out to partner the well-set Akbar in an unfinished stand worth 179 thus far for the fourth wicket in 206 minutes.

While the left-handed Ayaz hit up 67 off 153 balls (seven boundaries, it was the 37-yar-old Akbar who was in dominant mood as he reached 155 from 194 deliveries while striking 12 fours and four sixes in what was his 13th first-class century.

Nawaz, who failed just five short of scoring his sixth first-class hundred against Balochistan on Monday, made 121 after Northern captain Nauman Ali elected to bat first. The left-handed Nawaz outscored Faizan during their rollicking partnership of 219 in 195 minutes before being dismissed in the last session. The Pakistan discard’s 146-ball effort included 15 boundaries and two sixes.

Faizan was batting on 124 in a 162-ball knock containing 16 fours and a six. It was the 10th time he had reached three figures at the first-class level.

Earlier in the day, opener Nasir Nawaz was major run-getter with 68 in the first-wicket stand of 90 with the promoted Sarmad Bhatti.

Umar Siddique fell six runs shy of completing his 10th ton after choosing to bat first against Central Punjab. Together with fellow left-hander Zain Abbas (69), the Southern Punjab captain shared a second-wicket partnership of 88. He was final dismissed for a 232-ball 94 (11 boundaries).

Agha Salman frustrated Central Punjab further in the evening session as he struck an unbeaten 62.

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

First XI, fifth round:

At National Stadium, Karachi: NORTHERN 371-5 in 87 overs (Faizan Riaz 124 not out, Mohammad Nawaz 121, Nasir Nawaz 68, Sarmad Bhatti 24; Sajid Khan 2-98) vs KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA.

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: SOUTHERN PUNJAB 272-5 in 88.2 overs (Umar Siddique 94, Zain Abbas 69, Agha Salman 62 not out, Saif Badar 22; Waqas Maqsood 42, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 2-62) vs CENTRAL PUNJAB.

At SBP Sports Complex, Karachi: BALOCHISTAN 333-3 in 87 overs (Akbar-ur-Rehman 155, Ayaz Tasawwar 67 not out, Ali Waqas 46, Imran Farhat 33, Azeem Ghumman 22) vs SINDH.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2020