KARACHI: Despite dogged second-innings resistance by Karachi Zebras, KRL were comfortably placed for victory on the second day of their Silver League Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship fixture at the UBL Sports Complex here on Saturday.

Replying to the Zebras’ paltry total of 83, KRL a substantial 185-run lead by collecting 268 all out in their first innings with Usman Arshad making 61 and Imam-ul-Haq 51. Paceman Basit Ali bowled well to take 5-49 in 26.4 overs and leg-spinner Mansoor Ahmed 5-104 in 39 overs.

Batting a second time, the Zebras had done well to close at 175-3 thanked to the unbroken partnership of 123 between Zeeshan Jamil (74) and Jaahid Ali (43).

Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) were also in complete control by dismissing Sialkot Stallions for 81 to earn a 129-run lead on the first innings at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot. Fast bowler Tabish Khan claimed six wickets for 33 runs in 14.3 overs.

SSGC then rode on centuries from Haris Ali, a 20-year-old right-hander who is rated highly by former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif, and Awais Zia to amass 261-3 to lead by 390 at draw of stumps.

Haris made his first-class debut memorable by finishing the day on an undefeated 104 (136 balls, 16 boundaries) as he and the left-handed Awais (108 off 106 balls, 17 fours) shared a partnership worth 188 in only 140 minutes.

PIA had to fight to take lead against Lahore Eagles at the LCCA Ground in Lahore. Replying to the hosts’ 206, PIA went to stumps at 239-9.

Habib Bank were in sight of a three-day triumph after Faisalabad Wolves were forced to follow on at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

Habib Bank added 92 to their overnight score of 240-6 to be all out for 332 with Test discard Abdur Rehman hitting 50 (84 balls, four fours and three sixes).

The Wolves then capitulated for 166 in reply with Rehman (4-65 in 24 overs), Umar Gul (2-51 in 12) and Aslam Qureshi (3-22 in 19) sharing the wickets.

Batting again, the Wolves lost Shahid Siddique, who was bowled by Umar Gul for a golden duck, before stuttering to 10-1 at close of play.

Quetta Bears, opting to bat first after the first day was rained off at the National Cricket Ground in Islamabad, were all out for 194 against Pakistan Television who replied with 88-2.

Close of play scores on Saturday (day two of four):
Group-I:

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: KARACHI ZEBRAS 83 in 27.3 overs (Ahmed Iqbal 38 not out; Yasir Arafat 4-25, Mohammad Irfan 3-10, Sadaf Hussain 2-22) and 175-3 in 53 overs (Zeeshan Jamil 74 not out, Jaahid Ali 43 not out); KRL 268 in 94.4 overs (Usman Arshad 61, Imam-ul-Haq 51; Basit Ali 5-49, Mansoor Ahmed 5-104).

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: LAHORE EAGLES 206 in 85.2 overs (Asif Raza 64, Mohammad Waheed 35; Najaf Shah 2-25, Aizaz Cheema 2-30, Hazrat Shah 2-54, Tahir Khan 2-70); PIA 239-9 in 69 overs (Shoaib Khan 69,, Shaharyar Ghani 58, Faisal Iqbal 36; Shahnawaz Jr 3-47, Asif Raza 3-51).

At National Cricket Ground, Islamabad: QUETTA BEARS 194 in 52.5 overs (Shahid Tareen 60; Usman Ashraf 4-38, Mohammad Abbas 4-84, Ali Raza 2-48); PAKISTAN TELEVISION 88-2 in 29 overs (Raheel Majeed 38).

Group-II:

At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad: HABIB BANK 332 in 103.4 overs (Asad Baig 72, Fakhar Zaman 69, Abdur Rehman 50; Imran Ali 3-94, Fahim Ashraf 2-54, Shahroz Raza 2-81, Faisal Yasin 2-84); FAISALABAD WOLVES 166 in 62 overs (Abdur Rehman 4-64, Aslam Qureshi 3-22, Umar Gul 2-51) and 10-1 in 2 overs.

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: SSGC 210 in 50.4 overs (Usman Tariq 66, Tabish Khan 43 not out, Awais Zia 34; Hasan Ali 5-97, Ali Zubair 2-22, Waqas Ahmed 2-63) and 261-3 in 51 overs (Awais Zia 108, Haris Khan 104 not out); SIALKOT STALLIONS 81 in 32.3 overs (Atiq-ur-Rehman 41; Tabish Khan 6-33, Rajesh Ramesh 2-16).

At Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad: ABBOTTABAD FALCONS 219 in 84.5 overs (Khalilullah 68, 126 balls, 9 x4s, Waqar Orakzai 40, Mohammad Ali 38, Saad Altaf 5-64, Kashif Bhatti 4-22); STATE BANK 213-6 in 64 overs (Abid Ali 47, Naved Yasin 39, Usman Salahuddin 39; Shakeel 2-37, Umair Khan 2-52).

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2014