LAHORE, Feb 22: Opener Salman Butt and prolific Misbah-ul-Haq struck half-centuries to rescue Punjab first innings against NWFP on the first day of their four-day tie in the Pentangular Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Friday.

Salman, who cracked a solid 290 in Punjab’s first match against Federal Areas, hit 72 while vice-captain Misbah scored 53 as Punjab reached 295-7 in 83.5 overs when stumps were drawn for the day. With prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf not playing in the match due to a family assignment, and all the other recognised batsmen back in the pavilion, chances for Punjab to set a formidable total appeared rather bleak.

After being forced to bat first by NWFP’s skipper Younis Khan, Punjab found themselves in trouble after losing opener Mohammad Hafeez (3), caught brilliantly by wicket-keeper Zulfuqar Jan off Fazle Akbar. Hafeez, who had nudged the selectors with a solid knock of 77 against Federal Areas, failed to read an inswinger to go off cheaply.

Punjab suffered another blow when last match’s centurion Nasir Jamshed also became Fazle’s victim, adjudged leg before for 16.

Later Salman (60) in partnership with Misbah helped Punjab cross the 100-run mark but was run out soon afterwards.

Later, Punjab captain Shoaib Malik, who is playing his first match of the cup, along with his deputy Misbah added a fine 76 runs in the fourth wicket partnership before presenting Zulifqar his second catch of the innings off medium-pacer Shakeel-ur-Rehman for an 88-ball 41. Punjab’s score at that point was 188-4. Shoaib’s innings included five fours and one six.

Kamran Akmal (then chipped in with an aggressive 40 off 74 balls before he was trapped leg before by leg-spinner Aslam Qureshi. Punjab’s hopes of posting an imposing total were dashed when their main hope Misbah was removed by Samiullah Niazi, caught by Riffatullah for 53 to make it 266-6.

Scoreboard

PUNJAB (1st Innings):

Salman Butt run out 72

Mohammad Hafeez c Zulfiqar b Fazle 3

Nasir Jamshed lbw b Fazle 16

Misbah-ul-Haq c Riffat b Sami 53

Shoaib Malik c Zulfiqar b Shakeel 41

Kamran Akmal lbw b Aslam 40

Abdul Rehman b Sami 16

Waqas Ahmed not out 12

Junaid Zia not out 10

EXTRAS (B-3, LB-6, NB-23) 32

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 83.5 overs) 295

FALL OF WKTS: 1-10, 2-70, 3-112, 4-188, 5-230, 6-266, 7-270.

TO BAT: Junaid Zia, Wahab Riaz, Aizaz Cheema.

BOWLING (to-date): Fazle Akbar 16.5-2-54-2 (12nb); Samiullah 20-4-67-2 (6nb); Shakeel 15-2-63-1 (5nb); Aslam 27-5-80-1; Wasti 5-0-22-0.

NWFP: Yasir Hameed, Riffatullah Mohmand, Khurram Shahzad, Younis Khan, Wajahatullah Wasti, Adnan Raees, Zulfiqar Jan, Aslam Qureshi, Shakeel-ur-Rehman, Samiullah Niazi, Fazle Akbar.

UMPIRES: Salim Badar and Riazuddin.

MATCH REFEREE: Abdul Sami Khan.

OFFICIAL SCORER: Najam-us-Saeed.