LAHORE: Sialkot’s Ashir Mehmood hit his maiden first-class century (112 not out off 158, 18 fours and a six) while Mohammad Adil, Ahmed Bashir, Test spinner Sajid Khan and Nisar Ahmed registered five-wicket hauls on the opening day of the third round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on Thursday.

Ashir stitched an unbeaten 200-run opening partnership with Azan Awais, who hit his third-consecutive half-century as stumps were drawn after 51 overs due to bad light at the Rana Naved ul Hasan Academy in Sheikhupura.

Adil’s seven wickets routed Larkana, who were bowled out for 63 in 23.2 overs while Abbottabad finished the opening day at 81-2 in 25 overs with an 18-run first innings lead at the National Ground in Islamabad.

At the Marghzar ground in the capital, Lahore Whites’ Ahmed wreaked havoc with 7-31 to take his tournament tally to 22, as Islamabad were bowled out for 167 in 47.4 overs.

Arsal Sheikh resisted the onslaught with a gritty unbeaten half-century (63 not out off 106, eight fours) while he was supported by Shayan Sheikh who contributed 43 off 40. In turn, Lahore Whites were 90-3 in 32 overs with a 77-run deficit.

Sajid, meanwhile, bagged his 15th first-class five-wicket haul as AJK were bundled out for 171 in 53.4 overs. Sajid was backed up by Mohammad Imran Jr and Mohammad Amir Khan who picked up two wickets each. At the close of play, Peshawar were 74-2 in 23.1 overs at the Ashfaq Cricket Ground Sirdheri in Charsadda.

Nisar (5-25) and Test fast bowler Mohammad Abbas (3-36) helped Lahore Blues decimate Quetta for a meagre 101 in 45.4 overs at the Saeed Sports City Bedian in Lahore. In turn, Quetta reduced Lahore Blues to 36-5 in 18.3 overs to share the honours on day one before stumps were drawn due to bad light.

Karachi Blues had a fruitful day against Fata at the Multan Cricket Stadium as they finished the day’s proceedings with 221-5 on the board thanks to Abdullah Fazal’s unbeaten 96. Fata’s Asif Afridi returned figures of 3-32.

At the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, Hyderabad were bundled out for a mere 96 as Faisalabad searched for their maiden win of the tournament. Shahid Ali (4-24) and Asad Raza (4-36) shared eight wickets among them. Faisalabad finished the day with a 116-run lead as Mohammad Faizan’s brisk 83 led them to 212-8 at close of play. Hyderabad’s Bilawal Bhatti continued his good bowling form with 4-43.

Bahawalpur had a productive day against Multan at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium as they notched 238-2 in 76.1 overs with Ali Hamza Wasim top-scoring with a dogged 187-ball 84.

Skipper Abid Ali contributed 64 in his 123-run opening stand with Ali while Mohammad Faizan Zafar was unbeaten on 64 when stumps were drawn.

Elsewhere, Karachi Whites lost three wickets for 28 runs as only 11.4 overs against Rawalpindi at the Shoaib Akhtar Stadium, were possible.

Scores in brief:

Faisalabad vs Hyderabad, Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad

HYDERABAD 96 in 22.3 overs (Kashif Bhatti 36, Sharjeel Khan 24; Shahid Ali 4-24, Asad Raza 4-36); FAISALABAD 212-8 in 42 overs (Mohammad Faizan 83, Muhammad Awais Zafar 45; Bilawal Bhatti 4-43)

Abbottabad Vs Larkana, National Ground, Islamabad

LARKANA 63 in 23.2 overs (Mushtaq Ahmed 14 not out; Mohammad Adil 7-16); ABBOTTABAD 81-2 in 25 overs (Zain Ishaq 25 not out, Afaq Ahmed 21)

Islamabad vs Lahore Whites, Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad

ISLAMABAD 167 in 47.4 overs (Arsal Sheikh 63 not out, Shayan Sheikh 43; Ahmed Bashir 7-31); LAHORE WHITES 90-3 in 32 overs (Attyab Ahmed 35 not out, Mohammad Faiq 35; Kaleem Dil 2-34)

AJK vs Peshawar, Ashfaq Cricket Ground Sirdheri, Charsadda

AJK 171 in 53.4 overs (Basit Ali 27, Ali Abbas 27; Sajid Khan 5-52); PESHAWAR 74-2 in 23.1 overs (Israrullah 43 not out, Waqar Ahmed 26; Faizan Saleem 2-27)

Rawalpindi vs Karachi Whites, Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

KARACHI WHITES 28-3 in 11.4 overs (Saud Shakeel nine not out; Munir Riaz 1-1)

Multan vs Bahawalpur, Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad

BAHAWALPUR 238-2 in 76.1 overs (Ali Hamza Wasim 84, Mohammad Faizan Zafar 64 not out; Tahir Hussain 1-39)

Quetta vs Lahore Blues, Saeed Sports City Bedian, Lahore

QUETTA 101 in 45.4 overs (Shahbaz Khan 57; Nisar Ahmad 5-25, Mohammad Abbas 3-36); LAHORE BLUES 36-5 in 18.3 overs (Hammad Butt 19; Mohammad Idrees 2-0)

Karachi Blues vs Fata, Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan

KARACHI BLUES 221-5 in 80 overs (Abdullah Fazal 96 not out; Asif Afridi 3-32)

Sialkot vs DM Jamali, Rana Naved ul Hasan Cricket Academy, Sheikhupura

SIALKOT 200-0 in 51 overs (Ashir Mehmood 112 not out, Azan Awais 76 not out)

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2024