KARACHI: Promising all-rounder Qasim Akram’s maiden first class century pulled Central Punjab out of danger against Balochistan during the ninth-round match of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy at Lahore’s LCCA Ground on Tuesday.

Central Punjab entered into the second day of the fixture reeling at 67-4, but Qasim smashed 111 runs off 162 balls to take the former champions to a heavily competitive total of 349.

The right-hander notched up a 140-run fifth-wicket partnership with Pakistan Test all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, who hit seven boundaries and a six in his 60-run knock before wicket-keeper Ali Shan added a solid 53.

Balochistan pacer Akif Javed, who captured three wickets on the first day, added another scalp on the second to finish with four wickets. Kashif Bhatti, Bilawal Iqbal and Yasir Shah took two wickets apiece.

At the National Stadium here, Northern posted a first-innings total of 605-8 before declaring against Sindh in the table-top clash. After openers Mohammad Huraira and Hasan Raza had scored centuries for the current Trophy leaders on the first day, it was Umar Amin’s turn to hit another.

The left-hander added 140 off 198 balls to the total, plundering a formidable Sindh bowling line-up for 11 fours and two sixes on what was a batting friendly wicket. Faizan Riaz and Umar Waheed contributed with 47 and 35 respectively.

Sindh, second in the Trophy table, were 52-0 when the stumps were drawn, with openers Khurram Manzoor and Saim Ayub at the crease.

There was once again no play in Abbottabad in the tie between Khyber Pakhtun­khwa and Southern Punjab due to overnight rain and a wet outfield.

Summarised scores:

Sindh trail by 553 runs against Northern

NORTHERN 605-8 (decl.) in 154.5 overs (Mohammad Huraira 173, Umar Amin 140, Hasan Raza 135; Zahid Mehmood 4-185, Abrar Ahmed 3-231); SINDH 52-0 in 19 overs (Saim Ayub 32 not out, Khurram Manzoor 20 not out)

Central Punjab 349 against Balochistan

CENTRAL PUNJAB 349 in 96.5 overs (Qasim Akram 111, Faheem Ashraf 60, Ali Shan 53; Akif Javed 4-97, Kashif Bhatti 2-59).

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2022