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| March 31, 2007 | Saturday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 11, 1428 |
Punjab eye massive win against Sindh
KARACHI, March 30: Punjab are seeking a big victory in their first Pentangular Cup cricket tournament match against Sindh, as they need another seven wickets with 118 runs to defend to clinch a thumping innings win against the home side, with a day to spare here at the National Stadium on Friday.
Battling to save the follow on, Sindh were bowled out for 340 by Punjab and later lost another three wickets for 118 at close of the penultimate day’s play of the four-day tie.
Punjab, after posting a massive 576 in their first innings, continued with their form, displaying disciplined bowling, leaving Sindh's batsmen reeling.
Resuming the third day’s play on 155-3, Sindh lost wickets at regular intervals after Khurram Manzoor was dismissed, adding just five runs to his overnight score of 75.
Skipper Faisal Iqbal (54) and wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed (66) did their best but failed to complete the job as the home side were bowled out for 340, 80 runs short to escape the follow-on.
Left-arm spinner Babar Naeem (4-64) was the best bowler for Punjab while Sohail Tanvir (3-72), Junaid Zia (2-62) and Najaf Shah (1-66) were the other wicket-takers.
Later, in their second innings, Sindh found themselves in trouble again after they lost their first innings top scorer Khurram Manzoor (9) with only 18 runs on board.
At close of the day, the hosts were on 118-3 with another 118 runs short of Punjab’s first innings total. Faisal Athar (47) and Naumanullah (6) were the other wickets to fall. Pacer Sohail took two wickets, removing Khurram and Naumanullah while Bilal Khilji was the other wicket-taker.
Khalid Latif, who is batting on 36, will resume the final day's play along with night watchman Tahir Khan (4). —PPI
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