February 24, 2008	Sunday	Safar 16, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 23: Centuries by Naveed Qureshi and Usman Saeed enabled Federal Areas to take full control of the Pentangular Cup match against Balochistan as batsmen dominated the second day’s play at the National Stadium here on Saturday.

Naveed, the former Test batsman who is the stand-in captain in this game, slammed a superb 141, while Usman contributed a solid 109 as Federal Areas amassed 441 for seven in reply to Balochistan’s first-innings tally of 253.

Opener Raheel Majeed could have become the first century-maker of the match had a rush of blood not cost him the three-figure mark by just two runs after Federal Areas resumed their innings at the overnight score of 79-3.

Unlike the action-filled first day, the bowlers were at the batsmen’s mercy as Federal Areas piled up 362 for the loss of only four wickets. They were helped by poor bowling and inept captaincy from Naseem Khan, who seemed to have run out of ideas.

But credit should be given to Raheel, Usman and Naveed for capitalising on the situation with some dazzling strokeplay. The overnight partnership between Raheel and Usman yielded 121 for the fourth wicket when Balochistan finally had a wicket.

Raheel, who started the day on 42, attempted to heave part-time medium-pacer Bilal Khilji to get the coveted landmark but holed out to mid-off for a 141-ball 98 that contained 15 boundaries.Usman and Naveed then pressed home Federal Areas’ advantage by adding 187 runs in 198 minutes. The pair batted throughout the afternoon session to take lunch score of 189-4 to 301-4 at the tea interval.

Usman, a member of the Pakistan Under-19 World Cup-winning squad in 2004, finally perished when Kamran Hussain trapped him LBW for 109. His 198-ball knock included 16 fours.

Kamran claimed another wicket with the very next ball when Yasir Arafat was caught behind for a golden duck, but Naveed marched on after reaching his eighth first-class ton.

Pakistan all-rounder Sohail Tanvir was at the crease with 38 when stumps were drawn for the day with Federal Areas already in front by 188 runs at the halfway point.

Scoreboard

BALOCHISTAN (1st Innings) 253 (Usman Tariq 68; Imranullah 51 not out; Sohail Tanvir 5-66, Yasir Arafat 4-83).

FEDERAL AREAS (1st Innings, overnight 79-3):

Raheel Majeed c Kamran b Bilal 98

Afaq Raheem c Gulraiz b Kamran 2

Fayyaz Ahmed c Gulraiz b Azhar 16

Bazid Khan c Bilal b Azhar 0

Usman Saeed lbw b Kamran 109

Naveed Qureshi c Gulraiz b Saeed 141

Yasir Arafat c Gulraiz b Kamran 0

Sohail Tanvir not out 38

Naeem Anjum not out 2

EXTRAS (B-10, LB-9, NB-16) 35

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 107 overs) 441

FALL OF WKTS: 1-6, 2-52, 3-52, 4-173, 5-360, 6-360, 7-428.

TO BAT: Shahzad Azam, Saeed Ajmal.

BOWLING (to-date): Abdur Rauf 21-5-90-0 (4nb); Kamran Hussain 17-2-71-3 (12nb); Azharullah 22-2-88-2; Bilal Khilji 23-6-82-1; Imranullah 17-0-70-0; Saeed Anwar Jr 7-1-21-1.