KARACHI: Pace duo of Mohammad Ali Bhutta and Waqas Maqsood continued their wicket-taking form to put Wapda in driving seat against Karachi Dolphins on day one of the fourth-round Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship Gold League fixture here on Thursday.

An overcast day at the National Stadium, Wapda skipper Riffatullah Mohmand had no hesitation in opting to field first after winning the toss. His decision put the Dolphins in dire straits as the first seven wickets went down in a heap for mere 33 runs before they limped to 80 all out inside 24 overs.

Bowling unchanged in tandem, both Bhutta and Waqas became virtually unplayable as the ball darted around and repeatedly landed in the corridor of uncertainty that hounded the hapless Dolphins batsmen.

Barring opener Majid Khan (14), Yasir Hussain (26 not out off 43 balls, four boundaries) and Adeel Malik (17) no one else reached double figures as Bhutta finished with 5-42 in 12 overs and his partner-in-crime Waqas 5-37 in 11.2 overs.

Wapda stuttered at the start of their reply when they slumped to 52-3 but Adnan Raees (40) and Aamir Sajjad (48) survived some anxious moments during their unbroken partnership that has yielded 96 runs thus far.

National Bank also were in punishing mood as they skittled out Multan Tigers for a paltry 68 in 28.2 overs after captain Kamran Akmal won the toss and decided to ask the regional side to bat first at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan.

Hammad Azam continued his rich vein of form as his swing bowling fetched him 4-41 in 12.2 overs with Ahmed Jamal bagging 3-7 in five overs. Opener Zeeshan Ashraf made 26.

National Bank thrived on an unfinished 100-run stand between Kamran, who returned to form with 66 (77 balls, 10 fours) while Akbar-ur-Rehman hit 54 (61 balls, seven fours).

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) recovered from 68-3 to total 262 all out after Islamabad Leopards chose to field at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad. Opener Imran Butt contributed 72 (158 balls, 11 boundaries) and put on 100 for the fourth wicket with Ali Waqas (83 off 151 balls, 12 fours).

Mohammad Rizwan hit 48 but the Akmal brothers, Umar and captain Adnan, both failed with each making four.

Seamer Shehzad Azam Rana claimed seven wickets for 82 runs. Wicket-keeper Naeem Anjum also excelled with six catches.

Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) were dismissed for 205 after being sent in by Rawalpindi Rams, who then closed at 14-2 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Lahore Lions, bidding to avoid fourth successive defeat, were restricted to 216 all out just before stumps against United Bank at the Marghazar Cricket Ground in Islamabad.

Discarded Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami took four wickets Peshawar Panthers lost half their side for 80 runs after bowling out Port Qasim Authority for 166 at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar.

Close of play scores on Thursday (day one of four):

At National Stadium, Karachi: KARACHI DOLPHINS 80 in 23.2 overs (Yasir Hussain 26 not out; Waqas Maqsood 5-37, Mohammad Ali Bhutta 5-42); WAPDA 148-3 in 42 overs (Aamir Sajjad 48 not out, Adnan Raees 40 not out; Adeel Malik 2-43).

At Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan: MULTAN TIGERS 68 in 28.2 overs (Zeeshan Ashraf 26; Hammad Azam 4-41, Ahmed Jamal 3-7, Zia-ul-Haq 2-19); NATIONAL BANK 234-4 in 53 overs (Kamran Akmal 66 not out, Akbar Rehmani 54 not out, Umar Waheed 41, Fawad Alam 33; Majid Ali 2-37).

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: ZTBL 205 in 78.1 overs (Mohammad Khalil 67, Kashif Dawood 34; Rizwan Akbar 4-49,Tayyab Abbas 3-71); RAWALPINDI RAMS 14-2 in 5 overs.

At Marghazar Cricket Ground, Islamabad: LAHORE LIONS 216 in 82.2 overs (Umar Siddique 48, Waqas Saleem 43, Arsalan Bajwa 30; Rumman Raees Khan 4-48, Ali Zahid 2-28, Adil Raza 2-42) vs UNITED BANK.

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: SNGPL 262 in 73.3 overs (Ali Waqas 83, Imran Butt 72, Mohammad Rizwan 48; Shahzad Azam 7-82, Zohaib Ahmed 2-56) vs ISLAMABAD LEOPARDS.

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar: PORT QASIM AUTHORITY 166 in 50.2 overs (Umar Amin 48, Shahzaib Hasan 36; Azizullah 5-50, Azam Khan 2-48, Afaq Ahmed 2-60); PESHAWAR PANTHERS 80-5 in 22.4 overs (Gohar Ali 25 not out; Mohammad Sami 4-20).

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2014