KARACHI: Northern all-rounder Aamir Jamal notched up a five-wicket haul, Sindh leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed continued to bother batters and Pakistan Test mainstays Azhar Ali and Faheem Ashraf were among runs for Central Punjab as the fifth round of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy got underway at three different venues on Friday.

It was a second first-class five-wicket haul for Aamir, who made his international debut during Pakistan’s T20 series against England last month. The right-armer bagged the important Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wickets — of batters Kamran Ghulam and Adil Amin, before dismissing Mohammad Sarwar Afridi, Imran Khan Sr. and Irfanullah Shah to bowl the defending champions out for just 175 at the Abbotabad Cricket Stadium.

Aamir was assisted by Athar Mehmood, who picked up three wickets, as Northern secured six points for bowling the opposition out in under 100 overs. The accumulated another three for restricting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to less than 200 runs.

Northern, with two wins, are top of the Trophy standings, just above Sindh, who were helped by mystery spinner Abrar to keep Balochistan at 256-5 by the close of the day’s play at Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium.

Abrar, whose took nine wickets in the previous match, recorded figures of 3-93 on the first day against Balochistan, for whom Imran Butt (60), Haseebullah (57 not out), Hussain Talat (54 not out) and Haris Sohail (50) scored half-centuries.

Haseebullah and Hussain had put together a 108-run stand for the sixth wicket by stumps.

At the Multan Cricket Stadium, Faheem and Azhar scored half-centuries after Southern Punjab opted to bowl. Faheem was unbeaten on 67, while Azhar made 61 before he was dismissed by Mohammad Sadaqat.

Sadaqat and pacer Mohammad Ilyas took two wickets each as Central Punjab ended the day at 244-6.

Summarised scores:

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa post 175 against Northern

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA 175 in 38.5 overs (Waqar Ahmed 35, Sajid Khan 27; Aamir Jamal 5-38, Athar Mehmood 3-95)

Balochistan were 256-5 against Sindh

BALOCHISTAN 256-5 in 83.3 overs (Imran Butt 60, Haseebullah 57 not out, Hussain Talat 54 not out, Haris Sohail 50; Abrar Ahmed 3-93, Ghulam Mudassar 2-69)

Central Punjab were 244-6 against Southern Punjab

CENTRAL PUNJAB 244-6 in 79 overs (Faheem Ashraf 67 not out, Azhar Ali 61; Mohammad Ilyas 2-41, Mohammad Sadaqat 2-52)

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2022