October 29, 2001	Monday	Shaba'an 11, 1422

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KARACHI, Oct 28: Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan (ADBP cantered to an innings and six-run rout of Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) on the second day of the Patron’s Trophy Grade-I fixture at National Stadium here Sunday.

A maiden first-class century by Inam-ul-Haq and a deadly spell of seam bowling by Tahir Mughal were the chief reasons behind ADBP’s third victory in seven matches. The bankers now have collected 33 points with games against PIA and KRL to come.

Starting their second innings 161 in arrears, PWD crashed to 155 just as the light started to fade away when last man Nadeem Iqbal nicked the first ball he faced from Rao Iftikhar to wicket-keeper Nadeem Hussain.

Only Iqbal Imam, the experienced left-hander, negotiated the all-pace attack with certain amount of confidence and authority. He was left high and dry on an unconquered 52 when the final wicket fell.

Iqbal completed a superb half-century by lifting PWD’s main tormentor Tahir Mughal straight over the sightscreen at University Road End for a magnificent six. He also struck eight fours during his 64-ball innings in a stay of almost two hours.

There was just one notable partnership in what proved a dismal batting display. Riaz Shaikh helped Iqbal put on 59 in 54 minutes after PWD had lost their first five wickets for 73.

Riaz, who made 26 with five boundaries, was bowled by a beauty from Tahir. The medium-pacer then simply ran through the lower-order by snapping up four wickets in 18 balls conceding seven runs.

The damage, however, was earlier done by a fiery burst from Faisal Afridi. Generating a fair amount of pace, Afridi got rid of Azam Khan (4), Bazid Khan (10) and PWD skipper Saad Wasim (4).

Earlier, Inam-ul-Haq, the 22-year-old Sialkot-born opener, reached a thoroughly deserved century as ADBP added 118 to their overnight score of 167 for five. He was eighth out when left-arm pacer Ali Raza trapped him LBW for 101. Inam’s 189-ball knock in four hours and 41 minutes was laced with 13 hits to the fence.

The right-hander, who had represented Pakistan on several Under-19 tours and the Youth World Cup, is a fine prospect for the future. On Sunday he became the leading scorer in the current championship, taking his aggregate past the 600-mark (631 runs in 13 innings at 48.53) with the help of this century and six fifties.

The way he adapted to the bowler-friendly conditions is an ample proof that Inam possesses a fine cricketing brain. It’s great pity that none of the two Karachi-based national selectors, chairman Wasim Bari and the paid member Mohsin Khan, made any attempt to visit either National Stadium or UBL Sports Complex to watch some new talents.