LAHORE, Dec 23: Three-pronged pace attack of Azhar Mahmood, Rao Iftikhar and Yasir Arafat and later fine batting by opener Ashar Zaidi brought Rawalpindi in a position of strength against Lahore Whites
in Quaid-i-Azam Trophy at Qadhafi Stadium on Thursday.
The pacers claimed three wickets each as Lahore Whites were bundled out in second innings for 149 after resuming at six for four wickets. Only Taufiq Umar, who hit 71 in first innings, stayed at the crease for a considerable time to score 49 (seven fours, 54 balls).
Set to score 245 for win, Rawalpindi rode on a fine innings by Ashar (77, 15 fours, 59 balls) and were 123 for three in 27 overs, needing 122 runs to win with seven wickets intact and the entire fourth day, Friday, ahead.
SCOREBOARD
LAHORE (1st innings) 304 (Taufiq Umar 71, Ali Azmat 52; Azhar Mahmood 4-71).
RAWALPINDI (1st innings) 209 (Asher Zaidi 57; Waqas Ahmed 4-65):
LAHORE BLUES (2nd innings, overnight four wickets for six runs):
Sohail Ahmed c Ashar b Azhar 3
Khaqan Arsal lbw Yasir 0
Aqeel Arshad c Sajid b Yasir 0
Kamran Sajid c Sajid b Yasir 0
Aamer Sajjad b Azhar 1
Ali Azmat lbw Azhar 3
Taufiq Umar c Sajid b Iftikhar 49
Ali Raza c Azhar b Iftikhar 19
Waqas Ahmad c Azhar b Najaf 28
Junaid Zia lbw Iftikhar 8
Fahad Masood not out 22
EXTRAS (B-2, LB-4, NB-10) 16
TOTAL (all out, 36.4 overs) 149
FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-1, 5-8, 6-18, 7-84, 8-87, 9-99.
