March 08, 2008	Saturday	Safar 29, 1429

LAHORE, March 7: An unbeaten double century by the stylish Misbah-ul-Haq brought Punjab on the brink of a certain win against Balochistan in the Pentangular Cup cricket match at Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot, on Friday.

Misbah struck 208 off 203 balls to help Punjab gain a huge 348-run lead before declaring the innings at a mammoth 723-4 in reply to Balochistan’s 375.

By close of play, Balochistan at 207-8 in their second outing, were looking down the barrel, still 141 runs short of avoiding an innings defeat.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman snared three wickets for 65 while Wahab Riaz (2-43) and Mohammad Hafeez (2-47) were the other wickettakers.

Earlier, Misbah who had resumed at his overnight score of 160, further strengthened the innings with Ammar Mahmood in a third-wicket stand of 316.

After Ammar was caught by Saeed bin Nasir off Jalat Khan for a 147-ball 94, Misbah with his captain Shoaib Malik (60, four fours, four sixes) added another 130 runs for the fourth-wicket.

Shoaib was caught by substitute fielder (Faisal) off Abdul Rauf at the same total and Misbah immediately declared the innings. He remained unbeaten after slamming 17 boundaries and six sixes during a gallant stay of 272 minutes.

Abdul Rauf (2-102) and Jalat (2-189) were the main wicket takers for Balochistan.

Scoreboard

BALOCHISTAN (1st innings) 375

PUNJAB (1st innings, overnight 425-2):

Salman Butt c Yasir b Jalat 160

Mohammad Hafeez lbw Rauf 0

Nasir Jamshed retired hurt 140

Misbah-ul-Haq not out 208

Ammar Mahmood c Saeed b Jalat 94

Shoaib Malik c Faisal b Rauf 60

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-11, W-13, NB-33) 61

Total (for four wkts, 114.2 overs) 723

FALL OF WKTS: 1-26, 2-277, 3-593, 4-723.

BOWLING: Abdur Rauf 13.2-0-102-2 (nb8, w1); Tanvir Ahmed 10-0-88-0 (nb11); Azharullah 8-1-38-0; Jalat Khan 36.3-2-189-2 (nb8, w5); Imranullah 40-0-239-0 (w5); Usman Tariq 1-0-8-0; Saeed bin Nasir 1.3-0-12-0; Yasir Arafat Jnr 4-0-32-0 (nb2, w2).

BALOCHISTAN (2nd innings).

Yasir Arafat Jnr lbw b Aizaz 3

Usman Tariq b Wahab 2

Rameez Alam c Kamran b Wahab 48

Saeed bin Nasir lbw Rehman 16

Nasim Khan lbw Hafeez 1

Gulraiz Sadaf c Ammar b Hafeez 0

Abdur Rauf b Rehman 24

Tanvir Ahmed not out 36

Jalat Khan c Kamran b Rehman 11

Imranullah not out 49

EXTRAS (B-4, NB-13) 17

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 46.1 overs) 207

FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-19, 3-66, 4-67, 5-67, 6-90, 7-129, 8-149.

BOWLING: Wahab Riaz 9-1-43-2 (nb7); Aizaz Cheema 5.1-0-24-1; Abdur Rehman 14-1-65-3; Junaid Zia 3-0-24-0 (nb6); Mohammad Hafeez 15-0-47-2.