February 29, 2008	Friday	Safar 21, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 28: In sharp contrasts to the events unfolding at the National Stadium on Thursday, centuries by Yasir Hameed and Riffatullah Mohmand gave NWFP a rollicking start against Federal Areas in the Pentangular Cup match in Peshawar.

After asked to bat first by Federal Areas’ skipper Naveed Qureshi, NWFP piled up 343 for three in their first innings at the Arbab Niaz Stadium.

Yasir and Riffat nullified the toss advantage by putting on 196 for the opening wicket before both openers were removed by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.

Yasir was the first to go when he was bowled for 107 – a 116-ball knock that included 14 fours and two sixes. Riffat was then caught by Bazid Khan after making exactly 100 off 160 deliveries. He sent the ball 16 times to the fence.

Wajahatullah Wasti was the only NWFP batsman to fail, caught behind by Naeem Anjum off left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir for just eight.

But Khurram Shahzad (53, eight fours) and Aftab Khan (64, nine fours) ensured that the first day’s honours belonged to NWFP with an unbroken fourth-wicket stand worth 125 so far.

Saeed ended the day with unflattering figures of two for 122 in 32 overs.

Scoreboard

NWFP (1st Innings);

Riffatullah Mohmand c Bazid b Saeed 100

Yasir Hameed b Saeed 107

Wajahatullah Wasti c Naeem b Sohail 8

Khurram Manzoor not out 53

Aftab Khan not out 64

EXTRAS (B-6, W-2, NB-2) 10

TOTAL (for three wkts, 90 overs) 342

FALL OF WKTS: 1-196, 2-211, 3-219.

TO BAT: Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Jan, Yasir Shah, Nauman Habib, Waqar Ahmed, Fazle Akbar.

BOWLING (to-date): Sohail Tanvir 20-1-76-1 (2w); Yasir Arafat 17-2-75-0; Yasir Ali 17-4-54-0; Saeed Ajmal 32-8-122-2 (2nb); Ashar Zaidi 4-0-9-0.

FEDERAL AREAS: Afaq Raheem, Raheel Majeed, Ashar Zaidi, Bazid Khan, Naveed Qureshi, Usman Saeed, Sohail Tanvir, Yasir Arafat, Naeem Anjum, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Ali.

UMPIRES: Nadeem Ghauri and Ahmed Shahab.

MATCH REFEREE: Abdul Sami Khan.

OFFICIAL SCORER: Nadeem Akhtar.