The eight-round of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22 season is underway at three Karachi venues. On day-two of the three four-day fixtures, Sarmad Bhatti scored 145 for Northern while Tabish Khan and Zafar Gohar took five wicket hauls for Sindh and Central Punjab. Balochistan all-rounder Kashif Bhatti produced a sterling performance with bat and ball for his side.
Table-toppers Sindh conceded a 221 runs first innings lead to Northern at the UBL Sports Complex. Resuming at the overnight score of 136 for two, Northern posted 321 in their first innings courtesy Sarmad’s fifth first-class century. The left-hander’s 145 was compiled off 299 balls and included 16 fours and two sixes.
Sarmad added 140 for the third-wicket with his captain Umar Amin who contributed 78 (134 balls, 12 fours). Seasoned Sindh pacer Tabish recorded the 39th first-class five-for of his career, the right-armer took five wickets for 55 runs in 23.1 probing overs.
He was ably supported by Sohail Khan who took three Northern wickets for 61 runs. By close, Sindh had reduced the deficit to 116 runs by reaching 105 for one in their second innings at close of play. Opener Ahsan Ali scored 44 while Khurram Manzoor was unbeaten on 33 when stumps were drawn for the day.
Northern collected three batting and Sindh tallied three bowling points.
Over at the State Bank of Pakistan Stadium in the match between Southern Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which is being live streamed on PCB’s YouTube channel, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gained a 115-run first innings lead.
Resuming at the overnight first innings score of 45 for two, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were well-served by fast bowler Arshad Iqbal who while batting at number four as a night watchman scored 62 off 102 balls (nine fours). The ongoing season’s leading run-getter Sahibzada Farhan contributed 60 (six fours, one six, 127 balls) in a 102-run fourth-wicket stand with Arshad.
Adil Amin (30), Mehran Ibrahim (33) and Asif Afridi (30) made crucial contributions to push the lead past the 100-mark. Speedster Muhammad Ilyas took four wickets while Aamer Yamin and Salman Ali Agha took three wickets each.
By close Southern Punjab had reached 40 for no loss in their second innings to reduce the first innings deficit to 75. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa collected two batting while Southern Punjab collected four bowling points.
Over at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex, resuming at the overnight score of 283 for five, Balochistan were bowled out for 325 in 104.4 overs. All-rounder Kashif Bhatti was the best performer with the bat for Balochistan on Tuesday with 53 off 82 balls (seven fours, one six).
Left-arm-spinner Zafar who had taken two wickets on day-one, added three more to his tally to register the 10th five-for of his first-class career.
Balochistan and Central Punjab collected three batting and bowling points respectively as Balochistan had reached 318 for eight in 100 overs.
Central Punjab in reply were wobbling at 178 for five after 69 overs of batting in their first innings at close on day-two. Opener Rizwan Hussain top-scored with 50 off 98 balls (seven fours). Ali Zaryab scored 48 off 82 balls.
Kashif followed his batting heroics with a four-wicket haul for 59 runs to put Balochistan in a strong position in the match. The left-armer will be chasing his 23rd first-class five-for tomorrow.
Scores in brief:
Sindh vs Northern – UBL Sports Complex, Karachi
Sindh 98 for 9 declared, 31 overs (Omair Bin Yousuf 33, Mir Hamza 18 not out; Ather Mahmood 4-23, Kashif Ali 3-42) and 105 for 1, 26.1 overs (Ahsan Ali 44, Khurram Manzoor 33 not out)
Northern 319 all out, 100.1 overs (Sarmad Bhatti 145, Umar Amin 75; Tabish Khan 5-55, Sohail Khan 3-61)
Points so far: Sindh – three, Northern – six
Southern Punjab vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – State Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi
Southern Punjab 166 for 9, 57.1 overs (Muhammad Imran 64, Yousuf Babar 28, Tayyab Tahir 26; Arshad Iqbal 4-41, Asif Afridi 2-36) and 40 for no loss, 12 overs.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 281 all out, 89.2 overs (Arshad Iqbal 62, Sahibzada Farhan 60; Muhammad Ilyas 4-71, Salman Ali Agha 3-32, Aamer Yamin 3-54)
Points so far: Southern Punjab – four, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – five.
Balochistan vs Central Punjab – National Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi
Balochistan 325 all out, 104.4 overs (Shan Masood 102, Imran Butt 65, Kashif Bhatti 53; Zafar Gohar 5-126)
Central Punjab 178 for 5, 69 overs (Rizwan Hussain 50, Ali Zaryab 48; Kashif Bhatti 4-59)
Points so far: Balochistan – four, Central Punjab – three.
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