A maiden first-class double century by Mohammad Huraira put table-toppers Northern in a commanding position against bottom-placed Balochistan on day two of the final round match of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy fixture at the State Bank of Pakistan Stadium on Sunday.
Resuming their innings at the overnight score of 28 for no loss, in reply to Balochistan first innings score of 305, Northern’s opening pair of Huraira and Sarmad Bhatti put up a 365-run partnership for the first wicket. The left-handed Sarmad struck his second century of the tournament while scoring 135 off 243 with 16 fours and eight sixes. His partner, right-handed Huraira, returned undefeated on 243 off 265 balls faced. The 20-year old Huraira innings included 30 fours and four sixes during 437-minute stay at the crease.
Northern were 449 for two in 91.4 overs and lead by 144 runs when stumps were drawn.
At the UBL Sports Complex, Central Punjab were bowled out for 110 in the 32nd over against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s first innings score of 355 and were unlikely to qualify for the pink-ball final from 25-29 December at National Stadium Karachi.
Resuming their first innings at the overnight score of 305 for seven, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were bowled out for 355 in the 96th over. Rehan Afridi scored an unbeaten 84-ball 63 which included nine fours, while Test off-spinner Sajid Khan scored 51 off 53, hitting five fours and three sixes.
For Central Punjab, Faheem Ashraf and Muhammad Ali picked three wickets apiece.
In return, Central Punjab batters failed to display their skills and only three batters managed to get into the double figures. Azhar Ali top-scored with a 77-ball 43, which included seven fours. Zafar Gohar returned undefeated on 22.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s right-arm pacers Imran Khan Snr and Sameen Gul picked three wickets apiece.
At stumps, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in their second innings were 89 for no loss, leading by 334 runs. Fakhar Zaman (48, four fours, one six, 78b) and Sahibzada Farhan (40, seven fours, 73b) will resume their batting tomorrow.
At NBP Sports Complex, Southern Punjab’s Zeeshan Ashraf century took his side to a 23-run lead over Sindh when stumps were drawn for the day. Resuming their innings on the overnight score of 275 for five, Sindh were dismissed for 310 in the 97th over. Test player Fawad Alam could add only 10 runs to his overnight score and fell to Ali Usman for 85. Sarfaraz Ahmed scored an unbeaten 34 off 44, hitting five fours.
For Southern Punjab, Naseem Shah and Ali bagged four wickets apiece.
In return, left-handed Zeeshan’s 108 off 110 helped Southern Punjab post 333 for six in 76 overs at the close of play. Zeeshan’s innings included 11 fours and six sixes. Earlier, opening pair of Tayyab Tahir (69, 11 fours, two sixes, 112) and Umar Siddiq (30, five fours, 53b) added 81 for the first wicket. The left-handed Yousuf Babar coming to bat at number-five scored a 117-ball 64, which included 10 fours. Azam Khan batting at number six added a quick-fire 32-ball 48, smashing nine fours and one six.
For Sindh, spinners Mohammad Asghar and Zahid Mahmood picked two wickets each.
Scores in brief:
Sindh vs Southern Punjab – NBP Sports Complex, Karachi
Sindh 310 all out, 96.5 overs (Saad Khan 88, Fawad Alam 85, Sarfaraz Ahmed 34 not out; Naseem Shah 4-46, Ali Usman 4-113)
Southern Punjab 333-6, 76 overs (Zeeshan Ashraf 108, Tayyab Tahir 69, Yousuf Babar 64, Azam Khan 48; Mohammad Asghar 2-64, Zahid Mehmood 2-140)
Points so far: Sindh 5; Southern Punjab 6
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vs Central Punjab – UBL Sports Complex, Karachi
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 355 all out, 95.3 overs (Fakhar Zaman 76, Ashfaq Ahmed 71, Rehan Afridi 63 not out, Iftikhar Ahmed 53, Sajid Khan 51; Mohammad Ali 3-65, Faheem Ashraf 3-66) and 89-0, 25.1 overs (Fakhar Zaman 48 not out, Sahibzada Farhan 40 not out)
Central Punjab 110 all out, 31.5 overs (Azhar Ali 43, Zafar Gohar 22 not out; Sameen Gul 3-30, Imran Khan Snr 3-42)
Points so far: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 9; Central Punjab 3
Balochistan vs Northern – State Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi
Balochistan 305 all out, 59.1 overs (Shan Masood 190, Kashif Bhatti 68; Kashif Ali 4-49, Athar Mehmood 4-100)
Northern 449-2, 91.4 overs (Mohammad Huraira 243 not out, Sarmad Bhatti 135)
Points so far: Balochistan 3; Northern 8
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