February 12, 2008	Tuesday	Safar 04 ,1429

LAHORE, Feb 11: Test openers Salman Butt and Mohammad Hafeez struck timely knocks to help Punjab bounce back in their first innings against Federal Areas (FA) on the second day of their Pentangular Cup match at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

Salman and Hafeez, who are seeking selectors’ attention before the forthcoming home series against Australia, gave Punjab a rock-solid start of 191, helping their side finish the day at a commanding 219 for one in the first innings while replying to FA’s first-innings total of 383, after they resumed the day at 301-4.

Salman was still at the crease with 135 – his 11th first-class century – while Hafeez was the only man out for 77 as both mauled a FA bowling attack that also included three top fast bowlers – Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir and Yasir Arafat.

Shoaib, for whom the tournament is a test to prove his match-fitness, looked ordinary in his first four-over spell, giving away 29 runs. However, his second spell of three overs cost him just five runs.

Sohail claimed the only wicket when he trapped Hafeez lbw. Hafeez smashed 14 fours. Salman completed his century with 20 fours and a six. Overall, he has belted 24 boundaries and a six.

The 173-minute partnership between Salman and Hafeez has almost brought Punjab back into the match after the first day was dominated by FA.

But on the second day medium-pacer Wahab Riaz and left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman gave FA tough time, as they lost the remaining six wickets after adding just 82 runs. Wahab and Rehman captured four wickets each for 112 and 86 respectively.

Usman Saeed could add just 17 runs to his overnight score of 52 before he was caught by Aizaz Cheema at deep point off Wahab. Usman hit seven fours in the 291-minute knock.

Naveed Qureshi was out for 58 after resuming at 41 when wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal held a brilliant catch off Aizaz. Naveed slammed 10 boundaries during his 158-minute stay at the crease.

From thereon, Rehman was on song, taking three wickets in a row as FA hopes for a 400-plus total vanished. Once Yasir Arafat was removed, caught by Wahab at mid-off off Rehman for 31, Naeem Anjum (4) and Sohail Tanvir (3) also went back cheaply before Wahab picked up his fourth wicket sending back Shoaib Akhtar for a duck and then wrapping up the innings 40 minutes after lunch.

Despite being 164 still behind, Punjab are well placed with seasoned batsmen like Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Kamran Akmal still to come.

Scoreboard

FEDERAL AREAS (1st Innings, overnight 301-4):

Raheel Majeed c Nasir b Khalil 107

Afaq Rahim b Rehman 40

Babar Naeem c Hafeez b Wahab 17

Bazid Khan c Kamran b Wahab 25

Usman Saeed c Aizaz b Wahab 69

Naveed Qureshi c Kamran b Aizaz 58

Yasir Arafat c Wahab b Rehman 31

Naeem Anjum lbw b Rehman 4

Sohail Tanvir c Misbah b Rehman 3

Shoaib Akhtar c Yousuf b Wahab 0

Shahzad Azam not out 0

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-8, W-2, NB-18) 29

TOTAL (all out, 126.4 overs) 383

FALL OF WKTS: 1-80, 2-136, 3-160, 4-222, 5-327, 6-354, 7-375, 8-375, 9-382.

BOWLING: Wahab Riaz 29.4-5-112-4 (16nb); Mohammad Khalil 17-1-67-1 (2nb, 1w); Aizaz Cheema 19-1-62-1 (1w); Abdul Rehman 40-13-86-4; Mohammad Hafeez 4-1-18-0; Mansoor Amjad 17-3-29-0.

PUNJAB (1st Innings):

Salman Butt not out 135

Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Sohail 77

Nasir Jamshed not out 6

EXTRAS (W-1) 1

TOTAL (for one wkt, 48 overs) 219

FALL OF WKT: 1-191.

TO BAT: Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Mansoor Amjad, Abdul Rehman, Aizaz Cheema, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Khalil.

BOWLING (to-date): Shoaib Akhtar 7-0-34-0 (1w); Sohail Tanvir 11-3-35-1; Yasir Arafat 11-1-36-0; Raheel Majeed 1-0-16-0; Shahzad Azam 6-0-36-0; Babar Naeem 9-0-42-0; Naveed Qureshi 3-0-20-0.