KARACHI, March 13: Battle-hardened veteran Asif Mujtaba notched up his 47th century in first-class cricket as the Patron’s Trophy first semifinal between PIA and National Bank headed for a close finish at the National Stadium on Sunday.
Asif, the 37-year-old former Test left-hander, scored an undefeated 104 to help PIA declared their second innings at 370 for nine on the penultimate day of the four-day encounter.
NBP, needing 297 for victory in a possible 105 overs, however made a solid start to reach stumps at 41 for no wicket with Nasir Jamshed (25) and Faisal Athar (13) safely negotiating the available 15 overs.
The bankers would have to bat really well on a last-day pitch that is still favouring batsmen. Unfortunately, they will definitely one man short after Imran Nazir was rushed to hospital with a dislocated shoulder.
Imran sustained the horrific injury while taking a spectacular catch when PIA skipper Moin Khan attempted a reverse sweep against slow left-armer Qaiser Abbas. The former Test opener landed on the point of his right shoulder with a bang as he completed the running catch behind the wicket-keeper.
It took a while before Imran, writhing in considerable pain, was taken off the field on a stretcher. To make matter worse, there was no immediate first aid available at the ground to ease the poor fellow’s misfortune.
Imran had earlier taken another blinding catch at point when Ghulam Ali slashed at wide delivery from paceman Mohammad Asif after an opening stand of 113 with Kamran Sajid.
Ghulam Ali, who had added 20 to his overnight score of 52, stroked 15 boundaries in his 72 off 114 balls. The left-handed Kamran, well taken at slip by Mohammad Javed on the stroke of lunch, slammed six fours on his way to 54.
Asif Mujtaba then Bazid Khan in a third-wicket partnership of 114 before the latter dragged a delivery from Asif onto leg stump while aiming an ambitious drive through the off-side. Bazid’s 54 contained five hits to the fence.
Moin, in a bid to hasten the declaration, helped himself to a breezy 35 off 27 balls, including four fours and one six. Janisar Khan also hit a huge six in scoring 21.
But it was Asif Mujtaba who held the PIA’s innings together as he scored his second century in successive matches, following an unbeaten 137 against PTCL earlier in the week. His 148-ball knock was laced with 11 fours in a stay of 216 minutes.
Scoreboard
PIA (1st Innings) 150 (Shoaib Khan 55; Mohammad Asif 4-34).
NATIONAL BANK (1st Innings) 224 (Naumanullah 79; Najaf Shah 7-57).
PIA (2nd Innings, overnight 85-0):
Kamran Sajid c Javed b Irfan 54
Ghulam Ali c Imran b Asif 72
Shoaib Khan c Naeem b Javed 5
Bazid Khan b Asif 54
Asif Mujtaba not out 104
Moin Khan c Imran b Irfan 35
Faisal Iqbal c Javed b Irfan 2
Janisar Khan c Nauman b Qaiser 21
Imran Tahir run out 5
Najaf Shah run out 0
EXTRAS (B-5, LB-5, W-1, NB-6) 17
TOTAL (for nine decl, 72.1 overs) 370
FALL OF WKTS: 1-113, 2-126, 3-148, 4-262, 5-313, 6-324, 7-359, 8-369, 9-370.
BOWLING: Mohammad Asif 24-9-71-2 (3nb); Zahid Saeed 15-4-58-0 (1w); Mohammad Javed 12-0-54-1 (3nb); Irfanuddin 22.1-0-92-3; Qaiser Abbas 19-0-85-1.
NATIONAL BANK (2nd Innings):
Nasir Jamshed not out 25
Faisal Athar not out 13
EXTRAS (W-1, NB-2) 3
TOTAL (for no wkt, 15 overs) 41
BOWLING (to-date): Fazle Akbar 5-1-8-0; Najaf Shah 7-2-25-0; Janisar Khan 1-0-7-0 (2nb, 1w); Imran Tahir 2-1-1-0.
