KARACHI: Contrasting centuries from Majid Khan and Javed Mansoor helped K-Electric collect a formidable first-innings total of 393-8 against Karachi Port Trust (KPT) on the opening day of the three-day semi-final of the Patron’s Trophy (Grade-II) Cricket Tournament here on Tuesday.

KPT were left to rue their decision to field first at the toss on an excellent National Stadium strip as K-Electric batsmen, led by Majid and Javed, thrived to inspire their side to a score which is already looking imposing.

When the stipulated quota set aside for the first innings ended at 83 overs, K-Electric fell just seven short of 400 despite losing their experienced left-handed opener Israrullah to paceman Bilawal in the third over of the match.

Majid, who arrived at the fall of that wicket, provided a grand exhibition of fine concentration as he compiled 146 before an attempted leg glance against leggie Mansoor Ahmed ended in the gloves of Mohammad Hasan.

But by then the K-Electric were in total command since the sixth-wicket partnership between Majid and Javed was already worth 170 in just over two overs (122 minutes).

Majid occupied the crease for 272 minutes and struck 21 boundaries during his 222-ball innings.

Javed then found then Mir Hamza, the left-arm speedster who is gradually growing in stature as a pretty handy batsman in the lower order. The two of them combined to put on 65 in 52 minutes with Hamza contributing 36 off 35 deliveries featuring three fours and one six.

Javed was dismissed, caught on the midwicket boundary while going for another big shot, in the dying stages of the innings for 113 in a stay of 182 minutes. The veteran wicket-keeper/batsman hit seven fours and four sixes during his 120-ball knock.

Upcoming left-handed all-rounder Saud Shakeel scored a 46-ball 30 (four boundaries), while K-Electric skipper Rameez Raja made 27.

Bilawal was the main wicket-taker for KPT with figures of four for 108 in 19 overs. But fellow seamer Babar Rehman was quite expensive as he took one wicket for 120 runs.

KPT negotiated five overs to reach six without loss when stumps were drawn for the day.

Umpires Ehtesham-ul-Haq and Rashid Riaz are supervising this game with former Test spinner Masood Anwaar officiating as the match referee and Mohammad Ahsan the official scorer.

The winners of this second semi-final, which was shifted from Sialkot to Karachi following heavy rains in the Punjab, will take on Omar Associates in the four-day final to be played at the National Stadium from Sunday (April 12).

If the current match ends in draw, the side taking lead on the first innings will qualify for the title-deciding fixture.

Close of play scores on Tuesday (day one of three):

At National Stadium, Karachi: K-ELECTRIC 393-8 in 83 overs (Majid Khan 146, Javed Mansoor 113, Mir Hamza 36, Saud Shakeel 30, Rameez Raja 27; Bilawal 4-108); KARACHI PORT TRUST 6-0 in 5 overs.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2015

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