February 25, 2008	Monday	Safar 17, 1429

LAHORE, Feb 24: A captain’s knock of 117 by Younis Khan helped NWFP take lead on the first innings against Punjab on the penultimate day of the Pentangular Cup fixture at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Younis, who survived two dropped catches early in his innings, guided the visitors to NWFP 392 for seven in reply to Punjab’s total of 354.

Younis, the 30-year-old Pakistan batting star, scored 111 in NWFP’s five-wicket defeat against Sindh in the opening match of the tournament at the National Stadium in Karachi almost two weeks days ago.

Younis, who resumed on 36, added 73 with Khurram Shahzad for the fourth wicket when the latter was caught behind by Kamran Akmal for 41 (five fours) off medium-pacer Wahab Riaz.

Adnan Raees (21) then put on 66 with his captain for the fifth wicket before a mini-batting collapse reduced NWFP to 337-7.

When NWFP were just 21 runs away from taking the crucial lead, Younis departed when he was caught by Nasir Jamshed off left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman after striking 16 boundaries in his 211-ball knock.

New man Aslam Qureshi was clean bowled by Wahab for a duck. But Zulfiqar Jan (35 not out) and Shakeel-ur-Rehman (21 not out) then combined to put NWFP in front.

Wahab finished the day with three for 83 while Rehman toiled hard to claim two for 96.

Scoreboard

PUNJAB (1st Innings) 354 (Salman Butt 72; Fazle Akbar 4-74).

NWFP (1st Innings, overnight 181-3):

Riffatullah Mohmand b Rehman 54

Yasir Hameed c Kamran b Waqas 37

Wajahatullah Wasti lbw b Junaid 39

Younis Khan c Nasir b Rehman 117

Khurram Shahzad c Kamran b Wahab 41

Adnan Raees lbw b Wahab 21

Zulfiqar Jan not out 35

Aslam Qureshi b Wahab 0

Shakeel-ur-Rehman not out 21

EXTRAS (LB-14, W-3, NB-10) 27

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 143 overs) 392

FALL OF WKTS: 1-82, 2-114, 3-180, 4-253, 5-319, 6-333, 7-337.

TO BAT: Samiullah Niazi, Fazle Akbar.

BOWLING (to-date): Waqas Ahmed 13-1-52-1 (3nb, 1w); Junaid Zia 18-7-50-1 (3nb); Aizaz Cheema 23-3-70-0 (1w); Wahab Riaz 29-5-83-3 (4nb, 1w); Abdul Rehman 42-0-96-2; Mohammad Hafeez 12-5-20-0; Shoaib Malik 6-3-7-0.