LAHORE, Oct 16: An unbroken opening partnership of  185 between Kamran Sajid and Fareed Butt enabled Sui Gas to make a resounding reply to PIA’s first innings total of 379 on the second day of the Patron’s Trophy Grade-I encounter at LCCA Ground Tuesday.

Batting cautiously, both Kamran (81) and Fareed (73) found no terrors on a flat track. But their efforts were worthwhile  as they were facing a three-pronged pace attack, comprising of Mohammad Zahid, Fazle Akbar and Najaf Shah.

Fareed, though, looked somewhat aggressive after completing his fifty with a pull over midwicket off Mohammad Zahid.

He drove the bowler to the cover fence in the same over.

In all, Fareed slammed 12 fours while facing 198 balls during his 248-minute stay. His partner Kamran laced his 170-ball  knock with 10 well-timed fours.

Mohammad Zahid who gained fitness after some two years, bowled exceptionally well on a dead pitch, getting extra bounce and generated good speed. He sent down 14 overs in two spells of seven overs each. In first spell, Zahid conceded only 12 runs but his second cost 30 runs.

Fazle Akbar, who left the ground after twisting his knee while stopping a ball at cover, bowled seven overs and gave away 17 runs.

Earlier, Mahmood Hamid added just eight to his overnight 57 before falling to a catch at the wicket off Azhar Abbas,  who finished with five for 102 in 31.1 overs. Mahmood cracked nine boundaries in 130-ball innings that lasted 168 minutes.

Wicket-keeper Ahmed Zeeshan Malik went for 22 as PIA lost their remaining five wickets for the addition of only 73 runs.