LAHORE, Nov 3: A maiden first-class double century by Salman Butt helped Lahore Whites pile up a massive 362 for one in their innings against Karachi Whites on the opening day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy fixture at the Qadhafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Salman profited from a dropped catch to be 206 not out after Faisal Iqbal elected to field first. But it might have been a different story altogether had Maisam Hasnain at third slip held the chance offered by Salman off opening bowler Rajesh Ramesh.
But Salman batted with great authority thereafter on a grassy pitch and was involved into substantial partnerships with fellow left-handers Taufiq Umar and Kamran Sajid.
Taufiq, recalled to the Pakistan squad for the Kolkata ODI, and Salman started with an opening stand of 123 in 106 minutes. Taufiq scored 45 off 61 balls with six fours before being trapped leg-before-wicket by Ramesh.
Salman, however, marched on relentlessly and reached his century off only 62 balls with the aid an incredible 23 boundaries. His next hundred was more circumspect as he went to the milestone off 230 balls when he pushed part-timer Zeeshan Pervez for a single. He has so far hit 42 boundaries.
Kamran benefited from Salman's dominating presence to reach 78 at stumps in the unfinished second-wicket stand of 239 in 221 minutes. Kamran's 177-ball innings includes 11 fours.