January 10, 2007	Wednesday	Zilhaj 19, 1427

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LAHORE, Jan 9: A defiant 94 by Test reject Salman Butt helped Lahore Shalimar escape defeat against Faisalabad in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Gold League tie at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Skipper Salman, who made 98 in the first innings, batted superbly for 330 minutes on the final day as Lahore Shalimar reached 223-8 after asked to chase 287.

Despite lacking support from the other end, the left-handed Salman, who has been out of favour since the Leeds Test against England last summer, made sure Lahore Shalimar earned a draw as he negotiated 243 balls and hit 11 fours.

Lahore Shalimar sprang a surprising when Junaid Zia was asked to open the innings. But the move backfired as Junaid lasted 16 balls without scoring.

Scoreboard

FAISALABAD (1st Innings) 257 (Ali Raza 56; Junaid Zia 5-37, Mohammad Khalil 4-48).

LAHORE SHALIMAR (1st Innings) 258 (Salman Butt 98).

FAISALABAD (2nd Innings) 287-8 declared (Misbah-ul-Haq 97, Naved Latif 67, Mohammad Salman 64 not out).

LAHORE SHALIMAR (2nd Innings):

Sohail Ahmed lbw b Saeed 34

Junaid Zia c Salman b Asad 0

Salman Butt not out 94

Ashraf Ali b Asad 5

Aamir Sajjad st Salman b Saeed 20

Jahangir Mirza lbw b Ali Raza 21

Arsalan Mir b Ali Raza 4

Humayun Farhat c Zahid b Ali Raza 7

M. Hussain c Imran b Ahmed Hayat 16

Fahad Masood not out 0

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-3, W-6, NB-8) 22

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 84 overs) 223

FALL OF WKTS: 1-4, 2-51, 3-62, 4-113, 5-150, 6-158, 7-175, 8-210.

BOWLING: Ahmed Hayat 16-3-41-1; Asad Ali 25-6-58-2; Ali Raza 13-3-55-3; Naved Latif 1-0-2-0; Saeed Ajmal 25-10-51-2; Ijaz Ahmed Jr 4-6-8-8.

RESULT: Match drawn.

UMPIRES: Riazuddin and Kaukab Butt.

MATCH REFEREE: Ishtiaq Ahmed.

OFFICIAL SCORER: Abdul Hameed.