KARACHI, Oct 31: Balochistan gained early advantage when they shot out the powerful Sindh batting line-up for a measly 126 on an eventful first day of the second-round RBS Pentangular Cup fixture at the National Stadium here on Friday.

After being asked to bat first by Balochistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq on a pitch that offered appreciable help to the pace bowlers, Sindh never came to terms with the conditions as most of their batsmen failed to apply themselves.

Balochistan made a solid start until they lost three quick wickets in the closing overs to finish the day at 91 for four with opener Usman Tariq standing firm in a watchful knock of 40 that has taken the left-hander more than 200 minutes to score.

But all credit to Punjab-based trio of Abdur Rauf, Kamran Hussain and Azharullah sticking to the virtue of bowling in the corridor of uncertainty while forcing the batsmen to commit mistakes.

In an opening seven-over burst, Rauf sent back Khalid Latif, fresh from his unbeaten 123 against Federal Areas on Tuesday, for three before having Rizwan Ahmed taken at third slip by Saeed bin Nasir for a duck.

In fact, it was an unwise move on part of team management to ask Rizwan, who normally bats in the middle-order, come to face the music so early instead Naumanullah the regular No 3. As a result, poor Rizwan was needlessly sacrificed.

Naumanullah, coming to the crease at 18 for two, batted solidly for exactly two-and-a-half hours until he was eighth out, edging a wide delivery from Azharullah to wicket-keeper Gulraiz Sadaf after striking six boundaries in an 87-ball 47.

Azharullah’s second spell of 4.1 overs rewarded him with the wickets of Naumanullah, Anwar Ali and Tanvir Ahmed after getting rid of Khurram for 22 before lunch.

Left-armer Kamran Hussain took care of the middle-order batting in a decisive second spell when accounted for Faisal Iqbal, Fawad Alam and Sindh skipper Shahid Afridi, who unnecessarily tried to be adventurous and was cleaned up for a second-ball duck.

Azharullah finished with four for 32 in 15 overs, while Rauf had three for 29 in 16 hostile overs and Kamran three for 38 in 15 overs.

Shoaib Khan Jr scored the bulk of runs as he and Usman added 29 for the opening stand before falling to Tanvir for 25. Usman, now joined by Saeed Anwar Jr the third left-hander in the top-order, shaped up well during the day’s highest partnership (yielding 59 runs).

After reaching a patient 24, Saeed was unfortunately given out by umpire Iftikhar Malik after the delivery from Afridi ricocheted only off his thigh pad with the bat nowhere near as Sarfraz Ahmed completed the catch.

Sohail Khan, who remained off the field for sometime with apparently a stomach disorder, then ripped through nightwatchman Rauf and Rameez Alam in consecutive overs for ducks to somewhat even matters for the home side.

Scoreboard

SINDH (1st Innings):

Khurram Manzoor c Shoaib b Azhar 22

Khalid Latif lbw b Rauf 3

Rizwan Ahmed c S. bin Nasir b Rauf 0

Naumanullah c Gulraiz b Azhar 47

Faisal Iqbal b Kamran 12

Fawad Alam c Misbah b Kamran 5

Shahid Afridi b Kamran 0

Sarfraz Ahmed c Shoaib b Rauf 1

Anwar Ali b Azhar 19

Tanvir Ahmed c sub b Azhar 4

Sohail Khan not out 5

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-6, NB-1) 8

TOTAL (all out, 44.1 overs) 126

FALL OF WKTS: 1-12, 2-18, 3-45, 4-72, 5-86, 6-86, 7-87, 8-98, 9-102.

BOWLING: Abdur Rauf 16-6-29-3; Kamran Hussain 15-4-38-3 (1nb); Azharullah 8.1-1-32-4; Mohammad Irshad 5-2-20-0.

BALOCHISTAN (1st Innings):

Shoaib Khan c Khurram b Tanvir 25

Usman Tariq not out 40

Saeed Anwar Jr c Sarfraz b Afridi 24

Abdur Rauf b Sohail 0

Rameez Alam c Sarfraz b Sohail 0

EXTRAS (NB-2) 2

TOTAL (for four wkts, 45.1 overs) 91

FALL OF WKTS: 1-29, 2-88, 3-89, 4-91.

TO BAT: Misbah-ul-Haq, Saeed bin Nasir, Kamran Hussain, Gulraiz Sadaf, Mohammad Irshad, Azharullah.

BOWLING (to-date): Anwar Ali 14-5-31-0; Sohail Khan 11.1-5-13-2; Tanvir Ahmed 11-3-26-1 (2nb); Shahid Afridi 9-3-21-1.

UMPIRES: Iftikhar Malik and Mian Aslam.

MATCH REFEREE: Anwer Khan.