Tag: QEAT 2023/24

Faisalabad registered their first victory of the season, after chasing 186 on the final day of the first round of the QeAT 2023-2024, while Karachi Whites won over Peshawar by a margin of 116 runs.

Lahore Whites and Lahore Blues drew their game at Gaddafi Stadium after the former could not bowl out the latter in the second batting innings. FATA and Rawalpindi match also ended in a draw.

In the third game of the ongoing QeAT, Multan started the day at 155-5 after 52 overs, leading by 119 runs. After amassing 66 runs in the first session, they were bowled out for 221.

Faisalabad was thus asked to chase 186 on the final day. Openers Mohammad Huraira and Azeem Ghumman set the tone for the chase by going for a 63-run partnership. Even as wickets fell, the side remained in command of the chase without faltering.

Experienced batter Asif Ali, retaining his form from the previous batting innings, scored an unbeaten 42 which secured the game for his side.

They won the game by five wickets after chasing the target in 51.3 overs.

Meanwhile, in another game of QeAT, Lahore Blues stood at 61-2 in 26 overs, at the start of the day’s play, with Rizwan Hussan and Umar Siddiq at the crease.

A 92-run-stand between Umar and Rizwan, followed by a 47-run-stand between Umar and Hussain Talat helped Imran Butt-led side recover the deficit caused by the mammoth total accumulated by the opposition.  An unbeaten century by the prodigal Qasim Akram effectively took the side into the lead.

With the Blues at 329-8 in their second innings in the last session of the game, it was deduced that the game would not have a definitive conclusion.

The captains shook their hands as a draw was called.

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In the second match of the QeAT, Karachi began the day with Sarfaraz Ahmed at the crease alongside Aftab. The scorecard read 249-6. After getting to 329, Sarfaraz declared the innings, inviting Peshawar to chase 360 in the final innings of the game.

Peshawar, chasing a big total, had a shaky start; opener Israrullah failed to score more than one run and captain Sahibzada Farhan was removed after scoring 28 runs. Although a 68-run-stand between Kamran Ghulam and Waqar Ahmed helped their side gain some momentum, it was short-lived with the specialist spinner Abrar Ahmed getting both of them out before they could produce any significant damage.

The Sahibzada-led team could not sustain any solid partnerships after that and kept faltering on the crease. Sajid Khan, who had retired hurt earlier, came to bat at the end, Batting alongside Imran Khan Snr, the spinner tried to keep the game alive for his side.

Eventually, they were bowled out for 244 runs, with the Sarfaraz-led side seizing a 116-run victory.

In the fourth QEAT match, Rawalpindi started the day at 16-0 after batting for eight overs the previous day. Chasing a mammoth total of 400 in the final innings, the Umar Waheed-led team had a stellar start to their innings.

The openers Hasan Raza (79) and Abdul Fasih (65) had a brilliant partnership, expanding for 140 runs before Zeeshan Ahmed provided the breakthrough. Despite losing wickets periodically, Rawalpindi’s scorecard kept flowing. A half-century from Haider Ali and a 33-run-knock from Mubasir Khan helped their case.

Although the Khushdil-led team countered the plans set in motion by the opposition, Rawalpindi were determined not to give in. A four-wicket haul by Akif Javed destabilized Rawalpindi but not sufficiently enough to bring out their loss.

With Rawalpindi at 293-7 after 98 overs, stumps were called and the match was drawn.

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Faisalabad’s Ahmed Safi Abdullah impressed with his all-round performances in the first round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) 2023-2024, backing his gritty half-century with 10 wickets against Rawalpindi Region.

After Ahmed scored a gritty half-century in the second innings against Rawalpindi, he picked up two wickets in the third innings, effectively grabbing ten wickets in the game.

Playing at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi, he produced an extraordinary performance with bat and ball alike, rising as the most valuable player for his side thus far in the game.

Faisalabad started the third day of the ongoing first round of the QEAT, at 178 for the loss of five wickets with Asif Ali and Ahmed Safi Abdullah at the crease.

After Asif lost his wicket early in the day, as the set batter on crease Ahmed took on the mantle to keep the runs flowing. His partnership of 59 runs with Ali Shan helped his side retain their momentum.

Once that partnership was broken, the tail was cleaned up by the Multan bowlers. Faisalabad ended their innings at 269.

Captain Zain Abbas was removed cheaply at the start of Multan’s innings. Imran Rafiq and Sharoon Siraj subsequently steadied the innings batting together for 58 runs. Once this was broken, the Zain-led side suffered a flurry of wickets.

Multan ended the day at 155-5 after 52 overs, leading by 119 runs.

In the first match of the ongoing edition of the QEAT, Lahore Whites stood at 254-7 at the start of day three of the match. All-rounder Aamir Jamal lost his wicket early in the day, after which centurion Saad Nasim was joined by Mohammad Irfan on the crease.

Saad and Irfan displayed an extraordinary batting partnership, expanding for 130 runs. The right-handed batter churned out a magnificent double century, batting over two days. The Saad-led team was bowled out after scoring a mammoth 432.

The Imran Butt-led team began the third innings, trailing by 184 runs. The captain and senior batter Usman Salahuddin both lost their wickets early on.

At the end of the day’s play, Lahore Blues stood at 61-2 in 26 overs, with Rizwan Hussain and Umar Siddiq at the crease.

At the start of Day 3 of another first-round fixture of the QEAT, Peshawar stood at 231 for the loss of five wickets. They lost three wickets early in the day, with Abuzar Tariq, Sajid Khan and Abbas Afridi falling periodically.

Peshawar was then bowled out for 301 runs. Medium pacer Ghulam Mudassar bagged a very important three-wicket haul.

Habibullah, the Karachi opener, lost his wicket cheaply at the start of their second batting innings.

Danish Aziz and Ammad Alam could not stay on the crease for long either. Omair bin Yousaf and Asad Shafiq displayed a reliable partnership of 113 runs which brought back stability for the Sarfaraz-led side.

However, then Omair was run out. Following which, two more wickets fell.

At stumps, Sarfaraz Ahmed was at the crease alongside Aftab. The scorecard read 249-6.

In the fourth QEAT match, Rawalpindi began the day at 129-8. The Umar Waheed-led side scraped to 144 before being bowled out by the opposition.

After losing both their openers for a run each, captain Khushdil Shah built a 63-run partnership with Salman Khan Jr.

Although wickets fell on the other end, Salman stood firm and completed a glorious century. Khushdil declared the innings at 225-6, giving the opposition a target of 400.

Abdul Faseeh and Hassan Raza opened the batting for Rawalpindi and were on the crease at the time of stumps, having scored 7 and 9 respectively.

Rawalpindi ended the day at 16-0 after batting for 8 overs.

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Faisalabad spinner Ahmed Safi Abdullah bagged an eight-wicket haul on the second day of play of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QeAT) 2023-2024, effectively backing the Multan batting line-up which, in turn, folded for 233 in the first innings.

Bowling at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi, Ahmed produced an inspiring performance with the ball.

Multan started the second day of their QEAT campaign at 145-2 after having played 43 overs the previous day. Batters Imran Rafiq and Sharoon Siraj were at the crease the time play started, however, both of them lost their wickets early in the day.

Multan were bowled out for 233, with the Faisalabad bowler Ahmed Safi Abdullah putting on a show. He got eight wickets in the innings and remained a challenge too big for the Multan batting line-up, who struggled against his bowling.

Faisalabad had a rocky start to their batting innings. The opening partnership, which yielded 40 runs, was the steadiest one until the fifth-wicket partnership between Muhammad Irfan Khan and Asif Ali, which went for 68 runs.

At the end of the day, Faisalabad were 178 for the loss of five wickets with Asif Ali and Ahmed Safi Abdullah at the crease.

In the first match of the QEAT, Lahore Blues began the day with the score at 247, having lost seven wickets during the innings thus far. With only one more run scored, the Whites had bowled out the Blues.

Fast bowler Ahmed Bashir bagged a four-wicket haul, while Aamir Jamal had three wickets to his name.

Whites lost their opener, Ali Zaryab Asif, early on which brought the veteran duo of Ahmed Shehzad and Abid Ali on the crease.

However, Abid too was removed just after scoring seven runs. It was eventually the sixth-wicket partnership between Hamza Akbar and Saad Nasim, that brought stability to their innings. Saad’s century brought confidence back to the batting side.

At the end of the day’s play, Lahore Whites stood at 254-7 after having batted most of the day.

At the start of Day 2 of their first-round QEAT fixture, Karachi Whites were comfortably placed at 267-6, with captain Sarfaraz Ahmed at the crease.

Showing his expertise, Sarfaraz churned out a gritty half-century which brought Karachi to a respectable total of 332.

Mohammad Ilyas got four wickets in the innings, and his efforts were complemented by Sajid Khan, who bowled at an economy rate of 2.26 and got three wickets as well.

Peshawar had a dream start to their innings. A 127-run stand for the first wicket put them in control.

Particularly, a magnificent 85 produced by Sahibzada Farhan put pressure on the Karachi bowlers.

However, once the partnership was broken, and another quick wicket followed, Karachi’s bowling staged an impressive comeback, getting Kamran Ghulam and Israrullah in successive overs.

At the end of the day, Peshawar stood at 231 for the loss of five wickets.

In the fourth QEAT fixture, FATA were 196 for the loss of five wickets when the day’s play began. Sameen Gul and Mohammad Wasim Khan, who resumed from their overnight score, lost their wickets without damaging the opposition.

Mohammad Sarwar Afridi and Zeeshan Ahmed tried to stitch together a solid partnership to keep FATA’s score flowing.

Particularly, Sarwar’s 76 put FATA in a good position, before they were bowled out for 318. Bilawal Bhatti’s four wicket haul countered the opposition’s batting, keeping them at bay.

Rawalpindi suffered an early blow with their opener Hassan Raza out cheaply, followed quickly by Ashfaq Ahmed. Haider Ali too was removed just after scoring four runs.

Abdul Faseeh and Mubasir Khan knitted a partnership to ward off the blows. The two remained the highest scorers of the side by the end of the day but Rawalpindi found themselves in a spot of bother once this partnership was broken, rapidly losing wickets.

They closed the day at an abysmal 129 at the expense of eight wickets lost.

QEAT: Hussain, Junaid put Whites in command against Blues in Lahore derby

Half-centuries by Hussain Talat and Junaid Ali put Lahore Whites in a commanding position against Lahore Blues, on the first day of play for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QeAT) 2023-2024.

Bowlers Ahmed Bashir, Aamir Jamal and Mohammad Irfan counterattack the batting onslaught to keep the score at bay, while the Whites end the day on 247-7.

Lahore Whites, led by Saad Naseem, won the toss and opted to bowl first. Captain Imran Butt and Umar Siddiq opened the batting for Lahore blues.

However, by lunch, both the openers had lost their wickets. Resuming play after lunch from 69-2, the Imran-led side sought stability in the innings. A 54-run partnership between Usman Salahuddin and Rizwan Hussain helped their cause.

However, the bowling unit kept the Blues’ batting line-up on their toes by getting wickets periodically. Ahmed Bashir, Aamir Jamal and Mohammad Irfan each got two wickets. Bowler Bilawal Iqbal also bagged a wicket, at the start of the innings.

A 73-run partnership between Hussain Talat and Junaid Ali helped the Saad-led side into a comfortable position. Half-centuries by both Hussain and Junaid took the pressure off the batting side.

By the end of the day, Lahore Whites had posted a score of 247, having lost seven wickets during the innings thus far.

In the second first-round match of the QEAT, Peshawar won the toss and asked Karachi Whites to bat first, wanting to bowl first on the Abbottabad pitch. Although Sarfaraz-led Karachi did not get to an ideal start, having lost three wickets by lunch.

Peshawar bowlers challenged the batters early on; Muhammad Ilyas taking the wickets of Habibullah and Ammad Alam and Imran Khan Snr getting the dangerous Omair Bin Yousaf out.

Veterans Khurram Manzoor and Asad Shafiq produced a magnificent partnership between themselves to keep the batting side ahead of the game. However, Ilyas got Asad out, breaking the solid partnership.

After that, although Karachi could not maintain a steady partnership with Danish Aziz and Khurram both losing their wickets in quick succession, the scorecard did not completely halt.

At the end of the day, Karachi was comfortably at 267-6, with captain Sarfaraz Ahmed at the crease.

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A wet outfield at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi delayed the start of the third QEAT match. After losing the toss, Faisalabad was asked to field first. The batting side got to a steady start; the openers had a 67-run stand between the two.

Even after Ahmed Safi Abdullah got Haseebullah out, effectively breaking the opening stand, Multan did not feel any unease. A following 42-run partnership between Imran Rafiq and opener Zain Abbas kept the score flowing.

Although getting a half-century, Zain too lost his wicket to Ahmed. At the end of the day’s play, Multan found themselves at 145-2 after having played 43 overs in the day. Batters Imran and Sharoon Siraj, both batting in 20s, were at the crease by the time play was closed.

Overnight rain in Rawalpindi also delayed the start of the fourth match of the QEAT. After winning the toss, Rawalpindi opted to bowl first. The batting side lost two early wickets, with openers Samiullah and Salman Khan both getting out cheaply.

However, a solid partnership of 137 runs between captain Khushdil Shah and opener Mohammad Usman kept FATA in a strong position. Even though he was denied a century, a brilliant 99 by Usman remained the highlight of the first batting innings. Following his wicket, FATA lost Rehan Afridi cheaply.

By the time play was closed, FATA was 196 for the loss of five wickets after 57 overs. Sameen Gul and Mohammad Wasim Khan remained at the crease.

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