KARACHI: Zone-VI staged a fine comeback after conceding a healthy lead of 97 runs by reducing Zone-II to 44-5 in the second innings of the third-round of the PCB Regional Inter District Senior (Karachi Region) Cricket Tournament fixture here on Wednesday.

At stumps on day two of the three-day clash at the TMC Ground, Zone-II had an overall lead of 141 with a pulsating last day in prospect on Thursday.

Resuming at 18-1 in response to Zone-II’s 290, Zone-VI were all out for 193 in 72.2 overs with Usman Khan making 41 and skipper Faraz Ahmed Khan 30.

The left-arm spin trio of all-rounder Mohammad Asad (5-45), Wajid Saleem (3-66) and Junaid Naeem (2-49) shared the wickets.

But Faraz then turned the game on its head as the left-handed all-rounder grabbed three wickets for just four runs in six overs to put Zone-II in a spin.

A remarkable century from paceman Ali Mudassar enabled struggling Zone-VII make a sensational recovery against Zone-III at the Lawai Cricket Ground in Naya Nazimabad.

Tottering at 107-6 at stumps on Tuesday after Zone-III had been dismissed for 138 in their first innings, Zone-VII rode on Ali’s magnificent knock of 106 from 186 balls (five fours and four sixes) to reach 267-8 in the allotted 83 overs.

Ali and Owais Ahmed Rehman (65 off 122 balls, four boundaries) added 90 for the seventh wicket while leg-spinner Mohammad Ilyas claimed 5-132.

Stunned by that act of defiance from Zone-VII, who had lost both their matches this season, Zone-III found themselves in the mire at 55-5 after starting their second innings 131 behind on the first.

But Mohammad Sami, who made 48 with four fours and one six, and Mohammad Waqas — 47, five fours and one six — then came together to put on 82 priceless runs without being separated to guide Zone-III to 137 at close of play. All five wickets to fall were captured by Raza-ul-Hasan for 58 runs to add to his tally of 4-67 in the first innings.

Zone-IV were sitting pretty after bowling out Zone-V for 136 to earn a handy lead of 105 on the first innings at the Landhi Gymkhana Ground with slow left-armers Sohaib Khan (5-48) and Azam Hussain (4-64) claiming nine wickets between them.

In 63 overs before stumps were drawn for the day, Zone-IV collected 179-5 in the second innings to enjoy an overall lead of 284. Haris Ali Khan followed up his 52 in the first innings with another fine contribution of 82 (157 balls, 10 boundaries and two sixes).

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Salman took three for 40 while extending his match haul to nine following his brilliant spell of 6-35 on Tuesday.

Close of play scores on Wednesday (day two of three):

Third round:

At Landhi Gymkhana Ground, Karachi: ZONE-IV 241 in 70.4 overs (Khurram Manzoor 71, Haris Ali Khan 52, Daniyal Ahsan 35, Nadeem Shad 27; Mohammad Salman 6-35, Mohammad Zohaib 2-35, Moazzam Malik 2-77) and 179-5 in 63 overs (Haris Ali Khan 89, Waleed Ahmed 20; Mohammad Salman 3-40); ZONE-V 136 in 49.3 overs (Arsalan Bashir 28, Salman Hafiz 24, Mohammad Salman 22 not out; Sohaib Khan 5-48, Azam Hussain 4-64).

At TMC Ground, Karachi: ZONE-II 290-6 in 83 overs (Shiraz Ali 98 not out, Rao Waqar 64, Naved Khan 46, Mohammad Asad 45; Faraz Ahmed Khan 3-87, Noor Wali 2-50) and 44-5 in 26 overs (Ahmer bin Nasir 19; Faraz Ahmed Khan 3-4); ZONE-VI 193 in 72.2 overs (Usman Khan 41, Faraz Ahmed Khan 30, Faraz Ali 27, Fazal Subhan 18; Mohammad Asad 5-45, Wajid Saleem 3-66, Junaid Naeem 2-49).

At Lawai Cricket Ground (Naya Nazimabad): ZONE-III 138 in 63.3 overs (Zeeshan Jameel 54, Mohammad Sami 24; Bilal Javed 4-23, Raza-ul-Hasan 4-67) and 137-5 in 57 overs (Mohammad Sami 48 not out, Muhammad Waqas 47 not out; Raza-ul-Hasan 5-58); ZONE-VII 267-8 in 83 overs (Ali Mudassar 106 not out, Owais Ahmed Rehmani 65, Faraz Patel 19, Bilal Javed 18 not out; Mohammad Ilyas 5-132, Noman Saleem 2-29).

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2016