NAWABSHAH, Oct 31: Nawabshah qualified for the regional final of Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-II on the basis of first innings lead after their two-day match against Jacobabad ended in a draw at Nawabshah Stadium Wednesday.

Nawabshah were bowled out for 259 on the last ball of the 65th over after resuming at overnight score of 126 for two with Farooq Ahmed and Haji Khan hitting rapid half centuries.

Jacobabad scored 161 in their first innings and were 208 for four wickets in their second innings when play was called off. Mohammad Nawaz finished with an unbeaten 52 in 184 minutes and Aftab Ahmed made an enterprising 51 not out off 61 balls. The pair added 74 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket stand.

Earlier in the day, Haji Khan hammered 50 off just 35 balls in 48 minutes and Farooq Ahmed scored a patient 58 in 166 minutes. Haji Khan with Abdul Raud added 73 runs for the sixth wicket after Nawabshah were left struggling at 154 for 5.

Nawabshah will take on Dadu in the two-day regional final starting at Makli Stadium Thatta from Friday.

Summarised scores:

Jacobabad: 161 and 202-4 (Mahmood Nawaz 52 not out, Abdul Ghani 44, Aftab Ahmed 51 not out, Mohammad Ali 36, Shahid Hussain 2-43).

Nawabshah: 259 in 65 overs (Farooq Ahmed 58, Haji Khan 50, Abdul Rauf 32, Abid Ali 31, Khalid Hussain 3-52, Aftab Ahmed 2-61, Abdul Ghani 2-64).—APP

Mardan score 201

Fine batting by Imran Hussain (46) and Gohar Ali (43) helped Mardan score 201 in their first innings against Fata on the first day of two-day Quaid-i-Azam Cricket Trophy Grade-II NWFP Regional final at Arbab Niaz  Stadium, Peshawar, according to a message received here in Lahore on Wednesday.

By close of play, Fata were 83 for two.

Summarised scores:

MARDAN 201 in 63.1 overs (Imran Husain  46,  Gohar Ali 43, Sajid Shah 25;  Mohammad  Aslam  4-53, Imran Khan 2-29, Riaz Afridi 2-82);

FATA 83 for two in 19 overs (Ibrahim Afridi 20 not out).