LAHORE: Faisalabad romped to an innings and eight-run victory over Hyderabad in two days to register their first victory of the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy at the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad on Friday.

Starting from their overnight score of 212-8, Faisalabad posted 230 to take a significant first-innings lead of 134 thanks to Mohammad Faizan’s 83.

In turn, Asad Raza (4-37) and Shahid Ali (4-37) repeated their first-innings heroics to take their tally of match figures to eight wickets each as they bundled Hyderabad out for 126. Hyderabad posted a poor 96 in the first innings.

At the National Ground in Islamabad, Larkana closed the day trailing by 38 runs in their second innings with Mohammad Nawaz unbeaten on 58 after Abbottabad took a solid first-innings lead of 168 runs. Larkana’s Mushtaq Ahmed bagged 5-70 to restrict Abbottabad to 231 after they resumed from the overnight score of 81-2. Mushtaq was backed well by Aamir Ali Brohi who claimed four wickets.

In the fixture between Islamabad and Lahore Whites at the Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad led by 82 runs in their second innings with two wickets in hand when stumps were drawn.

Earlier in the day, Lahore Whites took a 47-run first innings lead as they were bowled out for 214 with Kaleem Dil taking 5-60. Islamabad were reduced to 129-8 by the close of play as Ahmed Daniyal took 4-24.

At the Ashfaq Ground Sirdheri in Charsadda, Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Faizan Saleem starred with 5-50 as Peshawar were dismissed for 213 but they managed to take a first-innings lead of 42 runs.

In turn, AJK’s Hasan Raza remained unbeaten on 62 as they reached 100-1 in their second innings at the close of play to move ahead by 58 runs.

Karachi Whites were sent packing for 145 in their first innings at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Islamabad after they began the day at 28-3 as Rawalpindi’s Mohammad Faizan (5-39) and Munir Riaz (4-43) shared the bowling honours. In reply, Rawalpindi closed day two with 196-9 to take a 51-run lead thanks to skipper Shadab Khan’s 46.

At the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Bahawalpur dismissed Multan for a 147 after posting 297 to take a 150-run lead.

Bahawalpur’s Mehran Sanwal (4-28) and Shoaib Manzoor (4-47) shared eight wickets among them.

Bahawalpur faced only three balls in their second innings before play was called off due to bad light.

Sialkot’s Ashir Mehmood (172) and Azan Awais (130) notched a record 312-run opening stand on a shortened day as Sialkot closed their first innings at 370-5 against Dera Murad Jamali Region at the Rana Naved-ul-Hasan Academy ground in Sheikhupura.

Lahore Blues recovered from an overnight score of 36-5 to post 150 all out in their first innings in reply to Quetta’s first innings score of 101 as only 41 overs were bowled at the Saeed Sports City, Bedian in Lahore. Quetta’s Gohar Faiz (4-49) and captain Jalat Khan (3-32) were the prime wicket-takers.

No play was possible due to bad light in the game between Karachi Blues and Fata in Multan. Karachi Blues will resume from 221-5 on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2024