Punjab thrive on docile pitch

Published November 14, 2008

LAHORE, Nov 13: Punjab batsmen took full advantage of a docile Gaddafi Stadium pitch as the hosts declared at 526 for eight in their first innings against Balochistan on the second day of the RBS Pentangular Cup match here on Thursday.

Ayub Dogar and Azhar Ali, who resumed at 99, joined emulated Adnan Raza by stroking centuries after Punjab began the day at 250 for three.

Azhar added only five more runs to his overnight score before he was dismissed by left-arm pacer Kamran Hussain for a sedate 104, a 290-ball knock which lasted 368 minutes and included nine fours.

Ayub, who didn’t open his account on the first day, scored 117 as he and Khurram Shahzad shared a productive fifth-wicket partnership of 198.

Ayub’s belligerent innings contained 17 fours and one six in a stay of 148 minutes. He was bowled by occasional medium-pacer Bilal Khilji.

Khurram was denied the chance to reach his century when Mohammad Hafeez, the Punjab skipper, opted to close the innings. Khurram remained undefeated with 93 off 154 balls. His 204-minute innings was laced with seven fours.

Balochistan lost both their openers before finishing the day at 50-2.

Scoreboard

PUNJAB (1st Innings, overnight 250-3):

Mohammad Hafeez b Asad 3

Azhar Ali b Kamran 104

Umar Akmal c Usman b Kamran 10

Adnan Raza c Bin Nasir b Azhar 113

Ayub Dogar c Kamran b Bilal 117

Khurram Shahzad not out 93

Mohammad Salman c Azhar b Zulfiqar 5

Wahab Riaz c Kamran b Asad 19

Abdur Rehman run out 21

Mohammad Talha not out 1

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-9, NB-26) 40

TOTAL (for eight decl, 143 overs) 526

FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-32, 3-250, 4-285, 5-448, 6-453, 7-496, 8-522.

BOWLING: Kamran Hussain 33-10-83-2 (9nb); Asad Ali 28-0-119-2 (15nb); Azharullah 26-3-104-1 (2nb); Zulfiqar Babar 29-5-96-1; Saeed Anwar Jr 12-0-50-0; Usman Tariq 5-0-26-0; Bilal Khilji 10-2-34-1.

BALOCHISTAN (1st Innings):

Shoaib Khan c Rehman b Hafeez 23

Usman Tariq c Hafeez b Rehman 12

Saeed Anwar Jr not out 3

Rameez Alam not out 2

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-4, NB-2) 10

TOTAL (for two wkts, 22.2 overs) 50

FALL OF WKTS: 1-41, 2-41.

TO BAT: Saeed bin Nasir, Bilal Khilji, Kamran Hussain, Gulraiz Sadaf, Zulfiqar Jan, Asad Ali, Azharullah.

BOWLING (to-date): Mohammad Talha 7-1-28-0 (2nb); Imran Ali 5-2-7-0; Mohammad Hafeez 6-4-5-1; Abdur Rehman 4.2-3-2-1.

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