March 02, 2008	Sunday	Safar 23, 1429

KARACHI, March 1: Despite a fine century by Pakistan reject Bazid Khan, NWFP were poised to take first-innings lead against Federal Areas on the penultimate day of the four-day Pentangular Cup match at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar on Saturday.

Bazid, son of former Pakistan great Majid Khan, scored 170 to help Federal Areas close the third day at 381 for eight in reply to NWFP’s mammoth total of 573.

Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat, who is batting on 53, remains Federal Areas’ last hope of avoiding the follow on when play resumes on Sunday. The visitors still need 43 runs with only two wickets standing.

In fact, thanks to Bazid’s grand 272-ball knock that helped Federal Areas stage a great comeback on Saturday after they were reduced to 107 for four after having resumed at the overnight score of 57 for two.

Skipper Naveed Qureshi weighed in with 78 off 123 balls and helped Bazid, who hit 24 boundaries in his second century of the current championship, add 169 for the fifth wicket in 164 minutes. Naveed’s innings contained eight boundaries.

In the opening match against Punjab at Lahore last month, Bazid scored a match-saving 172.

Bazid and Yasir then came together to put a further 82 for the sixth wicket before pacer Nauman Habib struck twice in two balls. After having Bazid caught by Khurram Shahzad, Nauman had Pakistan all-rounder Sohail Tanvir nick a catch to wicket-keeper Zulfiqar Jan for a golden duck.

Nauman ended up with three for 74, while upcoming leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed two for 96 in 32 overs. Left-arm paceman Waqar Ahmed also picked up two wickets for 73 runs.

Scoreboard

NWFP (1st Innings) 573 (Aftab Khan 178 not out, Yasir Hameed 107, Riffatullah Mohmand 100, Younis Khan 59, Khurram Shahzad 53; Sohail Tanvir 4-132).

FEDERAL AREAS (1st Innings, overnight 57-2):

Raheel Majeed c Zulfiqar b Waqar 16

Afaq Raheem b Yasir 31

Ashar Zaidi c Yasir b Fazle 4

Bazid Khan c Khurram b Nauman 170

Usman Saeed lbw b Nauman 1

Naveed Qureshi lbw b Yasir 78

Yasir Arafat not out 53

Sohail Tanvir c Zulfiqar b Nauman 0

Naeem Anjum b Waqar 9

Yasir Ali not out 1

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-8, W-1, NB-4) 18

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 106 overs) 381

FALL OF WKTS: 1-33, 2-37, 3-102, 4-107, 5-276, 6-358, 7-358, 8-371.

TO BAT: Saeed Ajmal.

BOWLING (to-date): Fazle Akbar 22-4-64-1; Waqar Ahmed 18-3-73-2 (1nb); Yasir Shah 32-8-96-2 (1w); Nauman Habib 16-0-74-3 (2nb); Wajahatullah Wasti 17-0-58-0; Aftab Khan 1-0-3-0.