Tag: QEAT

Unbeaten centuries from Asad Shafiq and Sarfaraz Ahmed placed Karachi Whites comfortably after the first innings on day three of round two of the ongoing QeAT 2023-2024.

Karachi Whites as well as Lahore Whites both declare innings after posting scores over 400, in their games respectively.

In the fifth match of the QeAT 2023-2024, only 10.3 overs were bowled on the second day after which play was called off owing to rain and the wet conditions of the ground. The side was 407-3, at the time of stumps.

Saad Nasim declared the innings on the third day, without adding more runs to their overnight score as the play was not possible in the first session of day three due to a wet outfield.

Rawalpindi had a steady start to their innings. A partnership of 107 runs between the openers placed them comfortably.

Even after Hasan Raza got out, Abdul Faseeh and Ashfaq Ahmed remained steady on the crease, getting a century and a half-century respectively.

Rawalpindi ended the day at 232-1.

Meanwhile, in the seventh game of the ongoing QeAt between Karachi Whites and Faisalabad, veteran Asad Shafiq was joined on the crease by Sarfaraz Ahmed at the end of day two.

Thereafter, Karachi started day three with their two most experienced batters on the crease, as the scorecard read 203-5.

Asad and Sarfaraz, who scored 108* and 128* respectively, took their side from 203 to 434. The brilliant 234-run stand between the two most experienced batters of the side ensured that the side was considerably ahead of their opponents.

Faisalabad bowlers had no luck on day three, as they could not get either of the two set batters out.

Trailing by a mammoth 434, Faisalabad batters had a task ahead of them. Falling victim to the pressure of the scorecard, Faisalabad batters could not stick to the crease.

They ended their day deep in trouble, at 63-6.

Watch QEAT 2023/24 Live on ARY ZAP

Peshawar on the other hand ended the first day of the sixth game of the ongoing QeAT season at 43-2 after batting 17 overs. The second day of play was called off due to rain and ground conditions.

Thus, Peshawar started the third day at 43-2. Sahibzada Farhan-led side struggled to sustain a long partnership for most of the day. Eventually, 73 runs produced between Kamran Ghulam and Abbas Ali helped bring some relief. However, Mohammad Imran broke the partnership by removing Abbas.

Kamran’s knock reeked of reliability as his 117 runs helped Peshawar get to 263, before they were bowled out. Medium pacer Sirajuddin got a four-wicket haul to his name while Majid Ali bagged three wickets.

Multan will begin their batting tomorrow.

In the eighth game of QeAT, Lahore Blues began their day at 83-3, with Qasim Akram and Hussain Talat at the crease. While Hussain was removed shortly after, Qasim’s half-century helped his side’s cause.

A half-century by Waqas Ahmed and a 49 by Junaid Ali further helped Imran Butt’s men to post 314 on the board, getting a lead of 174 runs.

FATA, already behind in the game, lost four early wickets and found themselves in a deep hole. Khushdil Shah and Salman Khan Jnr began the rebuilding job; by the end of the day, two had produced an unbeaten partnership of 79 runs.

FATA ended the day at 127-4.

READ: Misbah-ul-Haq backs Pakistan team despite ‘mistakes’ in Asia Cup 2023

Rain played an important role on the first day of play of the second round of games in the QeAT 2023-2024 with only the match between Lahore Whites and Rawalpindi that did not suffer a delay.

Whereas the three venues in Abbottabad and Rawalpindi duly influenced play.

In the eighth match of the QEAT, Rawalpindi won the toss and elected to field first. Playing on the batting-friendly conditions of Gaddafi, openers Ahmed Shahzad and Ali Zaryab Asif took charge from the get-go. Getting a century each, the duo put pressure on the opposition bowlers.

The 210-run between the two was eventually broken by when Ahmed retired hurt at 102. A brilliant 182 by Ali remained the highlight of the day.

Despite veteran Abid Ali getting out for just five runs and captain Saad Nasim getting out on a duck, Lahore ended the day in a commanding position.

By the time stumps were called, the Saad-led team was squarely ahead in the game; their scorecard boasting a healthy total of 349 at the expense of 3 wickets.

The toss of another second-round QEAT fixture was delayed significantly due to overnight rain and consequently, a wet outfield. Faisalabad won the toss and invited Sarfaraz-led Karachi Whites to bat first.

Watch QEAT 2023/24 Live on ARY ZAP

Veteran Khurram Manzoor lost his wicket cheaply. Opener Ammad Alam was then joined by the up-and-coming Omair Bin Yousuf. The two batted together for over a hundred runs, both getting half-centuries.

At the end of the day’s play, Karachi stood at 141, having lost just one wicket. Omair and Ammad remained unbeaten at the crease.

Multan won the toss and chose to field first, on the rain-shortened first day of the sixth match of the QEAT.

Sahibzada Farhan and Israrullah opened the batting for Peshawar. While the latter got out for a duck, Farhan contributed 22 runs before he was removed by Majid Ali.

Kamran Ghulam retired hurt after scoring 6 runs. Waqar Ahmed and Mohammad Ilyas, sent as a night watchman, remained on the crease by the end of the day. Peshawar ended their day at 43-2.

Meanwhile, no play was possible in the seventh match of the ongoing QEAT 2023/24 between FATA Region and Lahore Blues due to a wet outfield.

READ: Major blow for Sri Lanka as Maheesh Theekshana out of Asia Cup final

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.

Watch QEAT 2023/24 Live on ARY ZAP

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.

READ: Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan make five changes to the Playing XI for Sri Lanka fixture

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.

READ: Sri Lanka spin web to book India on 213 in Asia Cup 2023

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

Former Pakistan captain and current wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed on Sunday, added another feather to his cap as he completed 9,000 runs in the First Class (FC) Cricket during the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) 2023/24.

Sarfaraz Ahmed, who is leading Karachi Whites in the recently-commenced QEAT 2023/24, reached the milestone in his 174th FC match.

The wicketkeeper batter completed 9,000 runs at an impressive average of 40.65 average in his 270th FC innings with the help of 14 centuries and 62 fifties.

In his side’s first-round match against Peshawar Region, Sarfaraz Ahmed remained unbeaten at 28 as Karachi Whites made 267/6.

Besides that, Sarfaraz Ahmed also has 3,878 runs to his name in List A cricket in 199 matches including three centuries and 20 half-centuries.

In July this year, Sarfaraz Ahmed completed 3000 runs in Test cricket.

He achieved the milestone when he surpassed eight runs in the first innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka.

The wicketkeeper batter came out to bat when Pakistan were reeling at 73/4, fresh from the blow of their captain Babar Azam’s dismissal.

He put on a brief partnership with Saud Shakeel and added 28 runs to the total before Prabath Jayasuriya cut his knock short by trapping him in his legs.

Sarfaraz Ahmed could score 17 off 15 deliveries with the help of three boundaries.

Karachi Whites squad:

Aaliyan Mahmood, Abrar Ahmed, Aftab Ibrahim, Ammad Alam, Anwar Ali Khan, Arif Yaqoob, Asad Shafique, Azam Khan, Danish Aziz, Fahad Iqbal, Fawad Alam, Fazal Subhan, Ghazi Ghouri, Ghulam Muddasir, Habib Ullah, Junaid Ilyas, Khurram Manzoor, Meer Hamza, Muhammad Asghar, Muhammad Ashar Qureshi, Muhammad Hasan, Muhammad Umar, Muhammad Waqas, Nouman Ali, Omair Bin Yousuf, Ramiz Aziz, Raza Ul Hasan, Saim Ayub, Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Saud Shakeel, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, Tabish Khan.

READ: High-octane PAK vs IND clash postponed due to persistent rain

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.

Watch QEAT 2023/24 Live on ARY ZAP

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.

READ: High-octane PAK vs IND clash postponed due to persistent rain

LAHORE: Northern outclassed Sindh in a one-sided final by an innings and 55 runs to lift their maiden Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title at Gaddafi Stadium here on Tuesday.

The last two editions’ runners-up managed to win the prestigious domestic title on the third attempt as a double century from Muhammad Huraira and centuries from captain Umar Amin and Umar Waheed powered them to accumulate a mammoth 593 in response to Sindh’s 284 in the first innings.

Sindh, trailed by a massive 309 runs, witnessed another setback to their title bid as their top-order crumbled to 17/4, courtesy of a brilliant spell from Aamer Jamal, who took three wickets including Sindh’s stand-in captain Khurram Manzoor for a mere one.

Following the slump, veteran middle-order batter Fawad Alam looked to fight back with his gritty century that marked his 43rd overall in First-class cricket. Still, eventually, that too proved insufficient to neutralize the early damage.

Fawad top-scored for Sindh with 113 off 130 deliveries, laced with 18 boundaries.

43rd first-class 💯 for @iamfawadalam25 🙌

He wages a lone battle for Sindh in the #QeAT final.

Watch Live ➡️ https://t.co/rtFAdIbnYh#QeAT | #NORvSINDH pic.twitter.com/ZE2jKZBpZ0

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 29, 2022

 

Besides Fawad, tailenders Mohammad Umar and Aaliyan Mehmood were the two notable run-getters with gritty knocks of 36 and 33 respectively and Sindh, as a result, bundled out for just 254 runs, thus handing a massive victory to Northern.

🏆 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 🏆

Northern clinch the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title for the first time! 🙌#QeAT | #NORvSINDH pic.twitter.com/vcYoBxLGqI

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 29, 2022

 

For his magnificent double-century knock, scoring 221 runs off 236 balls with the help of 35 boundaries and two sixes, Huraira adjudged the player of the final.

The right-handed batter finished his second consecutive QeAT season as the top-scorer.

9️⃣8️⃣6️⃣ runs in his maiden season
1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣+ runs this season@realhurraira cements his place as the top run-getter 🙌#QeAT | #NORvSINDH pic.twitter.com/lq6fDk7vfd

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 28, 2022

 

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ABBOTTABAD: Northern outclassed Balochistan by 10 wickets in the round three fixture of the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23, while Sindh versus Southern Punjab (SP) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) versus Central Punjab (CP) matches ended in draws. 

Balochistan, resuming at 136/5, requiring a further 168 to make Northern bat, saw their batter Hussain Talat putting on a remarkable fight as he smashed an unbeaten century and powered his side to add 200 runs before bundling out for 336.

Set to chase a mere 33, Northern took just 43 balls to seal a comprehensive 10-wicket victory and carried on their domination in the standings.

The last four Balochistan wickets accumulated 107 runs, with Hussain dominating the scoring.

The left-handed batter struck an unbeaten 115 from 178 balls with 15 fours and two sixes. He also put on 93 runs for the sixth wicket with Khurram Shahzad (59 from 89 balls with 11 fours).

Northern’s Mubasir Khan bettered his 3/18 with 3/50 for a match haul of six wickets for 68 runs.

At the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Sindh held SP for a draw courtesy of an unbeaten century from Omair Bin Yousuf, while young Saim Ayub missed his maiden century by five runs in tense second innings.

Sindh resuming their 381 run chase at 57/0, managed to finish the final day at 326/7. Omair’s 110 came off 192 balls and contained 15 fours, while Saim’s 138-ball 95 included 12 fours and two sixes.

For SP, Mohammad Abbas bagged three wickets, while Ahmed Bashir returned with 2/53.

The third-round fixture between defending champions KP and CP at Iqbal Stadium also ended in a draw as the persistent rain and wet outfield halted one-and-a-half day’s play.

Following no action on the third day, CP resumed their first innings at 173/4 in response to KP’s 220 and could only add 101 runs before bundling out for 274.

Khalid Usman and Test spinner Sajid Khan rattled the CP batting attack as they bagged six and four wickets respectively.

Starting their second innings with a 54-run deficit, KP were 174/3 at the conclusion of the final day despite a dismal start.

Sahibzada Farhan, who scored an unbeaten century, put on a 142-run partnership with Rehan Afridi (54*) and made sure to protect his side from any stutter.

Farhan’s undefeated hundred came off 121 balls and included 13 fours and a six.

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RAWALPINDI: Southern Punjab’s (SP) batter Zain Abbas scored his seventh career century but Sindh’s spinner Abrar Ahmed bagged his second 10-wicket haul as the third-round fixture of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy between the two sides entered into an exciting phase.

Zain, resuming his overnight score of 48, carried on his domination over the Sindh bowlers as he amassed his century to power his side to a respectable total.

The left-handed batter scored 138 as SP accumulated 283 in the second innings after they already had a 97-run first innings lead.

Zain faced 195 deliveries amid his brilliant knock and smashed 13 boundaries and two sixes.

Abrar, on the other hand, followed up his first innings figures of 37.3-10-94-5 with 31.5-3-100-6 for match figures of 11/194.

Set to chase 381, Sindh finished at 57/0 at the stumps. Saim Ayyub (43*) and Khurram Manzoor (14*) will now resume the run chase for their side on the final day.

Meanwhile at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium in Abbottabad, Northern are on the cusp of a resounding victory over Balochistan as the latter finished the penultimate day at 136/5 in their second innings after Northern captain Nauman Ali enforced the follow-on.

Earlier in the day, Balochistan resumed their first innings at 108/4 in reply to Northern’s 520/8.

Balochistan then skittled out for 216 with only with Hussain Talat (48) and Yasir Shah (31) notable scorers.

Mubasir Khan led the bowling attack with 3/18, while Athar Mehmood, Kashif Ali and Aamir Jamal evenly shared two wickets each.

Ali Waqas (41) and Imran Butt (38) had provided Balochistan with a 59-run start before slipping to 104/3 and then lost two more wickets at the score of 136. They need further 168 runs to avoid an inning defeat.

The wet outfield at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, following persistent rain on Monday halted the action between Central Punjab (CP) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on a penultimate day.

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