KARACHI Former international Samiullah Niazi bagged five wickets to help Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) shot out Sialkot for a paltry total of 78 on the first day of the RBS Pentangular Cup match at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The 27-year-old left-arm paceman, who went wicketless in his only two One-day International appearances against Zimbabwe two yeas ago, captured 5-25 in 10 overs as Sialkot's first innings lasted just 31.1 overs after SNGPL skipper Saleem Mughal elected to field at the toss.
Sialkot were reeling at 40-9 at one stage but tailender Bilawal Bhatti used the long handle to good effect to smash 33 off 50 balls (four boundaries) as he and Faisal Rasheed (7) added 38 for the final wicket. Right-arm paceman Adil Raza took three for 18.
SNGPL then comfortably pressed home their advantage by reaching 187-6 to enjoy a lead of 109 by close of play. Usman Arshad, who is still at the crease with 50 (118 balls, four fours), and Yasir Shah (48 off 88 balls, seven boundaries) put on 88 for the sixth wicket.
Former Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez had earlier struck eight fours in making a 71-ball 42.
Scoreboard
SIALKOT (1st Innings)
EXTRAS (B-1, NB-6) 7
TOTAL (all out, 31.1 overs) 78
FALL OF WKTS 1-7, 2-8, 3-9, 4-15, 5-15, 6-20, 7-32, 8-34, 9-40.
BOWLING Samiullah Niazi 10-2-25-5 (5nb); Adil Raza 7-2-18-3; Imran Ali 9-1-28-1 (1nb); Yasir Shah 5.1-2-6-1.
SNGPL (1st Innings)
EXTRAS (W-2, NB-4) 6
TOTAL (for six wkts, 56 overs) 187
FALL OF WKTS 1-5, 2-46, 3-65, 4-97, 5-99, 6-187.
TO BAT Kaleem Ahmed, Samiullah Niazi, Adil Raza, Imran Ali.
BOWLING (to-date) Bilawal Bhatti 21-1-81-2 (2nb); Faisal Rasheed 11-4-40-2 (2w); Nayyar Abbas 16.3-1-41-2; Adeel Malik 5-0-12-0; M. Ayub Dogar 0.3-0-4-0; Hafiz Majid Jahangir 2-1-8-0.
UMPIRES Riazuddin and Rasheed Bhatti.
MATCH REFEREE Musaddeq Rasool.
