LAHORE: Tayyab Tahir stroked his third century of the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, Azhar Ali registered third double century of the event, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi reached three figures for the first time in his career and, Asad Shafiq and Khurram Manzoor scored their first hundreds of the season on day two of the game’s premier competition at various venues of the country on Sunday.

While the batters had smiles all-round, the bowlers also had something to cheer about when Sameen Gul claimed the sixth five-wicket haul of his career, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Umar picked up four wickets apiece.

At the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resumed their first innings at the overnight score of 291-5 against Sindh and were bowled out for 384 after adding 93 runs. Mohammad Sarwar Afridi was dismissed after scoring 148. His 201-ball innings included 20 fours and three sixes.

Kamran Ghulam added four runs to his overnight score of 89 to miss his 11th first-class century by seven runs.

Of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s five wickets to fall on the second day, three were picked up by spinner Abrar Ahmed who took four wickets for 130. Fast bowler Mohammad Umar picked up 4-87.

In reply, opener Khurram Manzoor led Sindh’s strong first-innings response with a 130-ball 116 to take his side to 214-2 at close. Together with fellow opener Saim Ayub (42), Khurram, who hit 16 fours, put on 84 runs, and then he added 113 runs for the second wicket with Saud Shakeel (43 not out).

At the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, Central Punjab started the second day against Northern at 300-3 and declared their first innings at 509-9. Test batter Azhar Ali, who resumed at 130, made a magnificent 219, while Tayyab Tahir struck 114.

Azhar’s 323-ball innings was studded with 20 fours and six sixes while Tayyab struck six fours and six sixes. The two added 224 runs for the fourth wicket. Wicket-keeper-batter Ali Shan, batting at No.8, scored 55.

For Northern, Mehran Mumtaz (3-111), Nauman Ali (3-173) and Mubasir Khan (2-76) shared the wickets.

When play ended, Northern had reached 107-1. with Mohammad Huraira (53 not out) and Umar Amin (35 not out) at the crease.

At the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Test batter Asad Shafiq scored his first century of the season and 26th overall, to help Balochistan score 346 against ATF Southern Punjab. Balochistan had started the day at 225-4 with Asad Shafiq batting on 70.

For ATF Southern Punjab, fast bowler Sameen Gul took five wickets for 84 and Mohammad Imran Randhawa added a wicket to his Saturday’s tally to finish with 3-75.

In reply, ATF Southern Punjab had reached 109-2 when bad light forced an early closure with Sharoon Siraj (46) and Usman Salahuddin (32) at the crease.

Summarised scores (fourth round):

Northern trail by 402 runs against Central Punjab.

CENTRAL PUNJAB (overnight 300-3) 509-9 decl in 140 overs (Azhar Ali 219, Tayyab Tahir 114, Ali Shan 55, Abdullah Shafique 32, Mohammad Saad 27; Mehran Mumtaz 3-111, Nauman Ali 3-173, Mubasir Khan 2-76); NORTHERN 107-1 in 34 overs (Mohammad Huraira 53 not out, Umar Amin 35 not out)

Sindh trail by 170 runs against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA (overnight 291-5) 384, 115.2 overs (Mohammad Sarwar Afridi 148, Kamran Ghulam 93, Sahibzada Farhan 53, Rehan Afridi 47; Mohammad Umar 4-87, Abrar Ahmed 4-130, Mir Hamza 2-51); SINDH 214-2, 51 overs (Khurram Manzoor 116, Saud Shakeel 43 not out, Saim Ayub 42; Ihsanullah 2-54)

Southern Punjab trail by 237 runs against Balochistan.

BALOCHISTAN (overnight 225-4) 346, 127 overs (Asad Shafiq 106, Ali Waqas 45, Haris Sohail 37, Haseebullah 33, Imran Butt 30, Khurram Shahzad 26 not out; Sameen Gul 5-84, Muhammad Imran Randhawa 3-75); SOUTHERN PUNJAB 109-2, 32.4 overs (Sharoon Siraj 46 not out, Usman Salahuddin 32 not out).

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2022