LAHORE, Feb 25: Test opener Salman Butt and Misbah-ul-Haq struck fine centuries for Punjab as their Pentangular Cup match against NWFP ended in a tame draw at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Monday.

Salman (117) scored his second century of the event while Misbah slammed an unbeaten 100 as Punjab, after conceding a first innings lead of 92, replied strongly to finish with 340-4 in the second innings when the umpires decided to call off the match.

Though Punjab managed a draw, the NWFP earned three points on the first innings lead.

Punjab innings started shakily with Mohammad Hafeez again failing to give a sound start to his side. But Salman and Nasir then stuck to the task and put all bowlers to the sword to wipe off the NWFP’s lead without being separated.

At 167, Nasir miscued a lofty shot against off-spinner Wajahatullah Wasti to find his stumps rattled. In-form Misbah then joined Salman and both went to add a fine 60 runs in the third-wicket stand. At 227, when Punjab had reached quite a safe position, leg-spinner Aslam Qureshi had Salman leg before for 117 which included 18 fours.

Misbah, however, continued to maul NWFP bowlers as he put on 105 with Junaid Zia (36) for the fourth wicket. Junaid was caught by Zulfiqar Jan off Aslam after hitting seven boundaries in a whirlwind knock.

Soon afterwards, Misbah completed his century with nine fours and two sixes off 108 balls. Earlier in the morning, the NWFP resumed first innings at 392-7 and added a further 54 runs before losing the remaining three wickets. Overnight Zulfiqar Jan, who held four catches besides one stumping, also excelled with the willow, scoring an unbeaten 73 after off 139 balls.

Medium-pacer Wahab Riaz finished with impressive figures of 5-113.

Scoreboard

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

NWFP (1st Innings, overnight 392-7):

Riffatullah Mohmand b Rehman 54

Yasir Hameed c Kamran b Waqas 37

Wajahatullah Wasti lbw 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 73

Aslam Qureshi b Wahab 0

Shakeel-ur-Rehman c Kamran b Wahab 22

Fazle Akbar c Junaid b Wahab 13

Samiullah Niazi b Aizaz 0

EXTRAS (LB-16, W-3, NB-10) 29

TOTAL (all out, 154.1 overs) 446

FALL OF WKTS: 1-82, 2-114, 3-180, 4-253, 5-319, 6-333, 7-337,8 -412, 9-431.

BOWLING: Waqas Ahmed 13-1-52-1 (3nb, 1w); Junaid Zia 18-7-50-1 (3nb); Aizaz Cheema 28.1-4-92-1 (1w); Wahab Riaz 35-6-113-5 (4nb, 1w); Abdul Rehman 42-9-96-2; Mohammad Hafeez 12-5-20-0; Shoaib Malik 6-3-7-0.

PUNJAB (2nd Innings):

Salman Butt lbw b Aslam 117

Mohammad Hafeez c Zulfiqar b Sami 16

Nasir Jamshed b Wajahat 59

Misbah-ul-Haq not out 100

Junaid Zia st Zulfiqar b Aslam 36

Wahab Riaz not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-6, NB-4) 10

TOTAL (for four wkts, 69 overs) 340

FALL OF WKTS: 1-31, 2-167, 3-227, 4-332.

BOWLING: Fazle Akbar 5-1-13-0; Samiullah Niazi 10-1-62-1 (3nb); Wajahatullah Wasti 15-2-57-1; Aslam Qureshi 22-2-111-2; Shakeel-ur-Rehman 10-0-45-0 (1nb); Riffatullah Mohmand 5-0-28-0; Yasir Hameed 2-0-18-0.

RESULT: Match drawn.

UMPIRES: Salim Badar and Riazuddin.

MATCH REFEREE: Abdul Sami Khan.

OFFICIAL SCORER: Najam-us-Saeed.