KARACHI: For the third straight fixture running, Karachi Blues conceded lead on the first innings as Habib Bank Limited (HBL) reached 255-5 on day two of the third round Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship encounter at the UBL Sports Complex here on Sunday.

But the bankers’ progress was kept in check by the regional side as just 204 runs were compiled in 81 overs. After losing the overnight opening pair of Azeem Ghumman (23) and Imam-ul-Haq (26) in the first 20 minutes, the former to a brilliant diving catch by Khurram Manzoor at second slip, HBL gradually gained control through two Pakistan discards.

Skipper Ahmed Shehzad and Imran Farhat shared a third-wicket partnership of 113 in 205 minutes on either side of the lunch interval with both completing half-centuries.

Shehzad fell to left-arm seamer Abdul Ameer when he edged a simple catch to Mohammad Sami, who was stationed at first slip, after hitting 10 boundaries in an 118-ball 54. The left-handed Imran faced 148 balls to score 64 with five fours and one six before providing Mohammad Waqas his maiden first-class wicket when he swept the occasional off-spinner straight to deep square leg where Adeel Malik was positioned.

The bankers were 98 ahead at draw of stumps with Ramiz Aziz (32) and wicket-keeper Jamal Anwar (21) having already weathered the second new ball which was taken after 87.2 overs. Surprisingly, former Test pacer Sami didn’t take it.

After the 18-wicket show on Saturday, sanity was restored at the National Stadium where Karachi Whites were left chasing 306 after bowling out KRL for 237 in the second innings. At close of play, Karachi Whites had already made 30 of those runs, leaving them a further 276 with two days still left in the match.

Earlier, Tabish Khan grabbed his fourth five-for in six innings as the fast bowler took 5-53 in 24 overs to end up match bag of 8-103. Opener Sardar Hasan hit 72 to top score for KRL.

Kamran Akmal hammered his second century in three appearances this season as the discarded Pakistan wicket-keeper hit 103 as Wapda amassed 504 in their first innings in the day-night game against Islamabad at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Resuming at 291-3, Wapda were well served by Mohammad Saad (94 off 231 balls, eight fours) and Kamran, who adorned his 114-ball knock with 12 boundaries), as the duo added 154 for the fourth wicket.

All-rounder Khalid Usman then slammed 96 off 101 balls (12 fours and one six) before being left stranded after putting on 107 for the seventh wicket with Zahid Mansoor (46).

Pakistan ODI and T20 all-rounder Imad Wasim captured four for 90 in 34.4 overs, while his team-mate in the national team, Hasan Ali took 2-101 from 26 overs.

Islamabad reached 113-4 in reply when play ended for the night.

Fata earned a slim lead of two runs on the first innings by dismissing PIA for 235 at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot. Paceman Irfanullah Shah claimed 5-49. By stumps, Fata were 116 in front at 114-2 in the second innings.

Holders SNGPL and last season’s runners-up UBL both were in danger of conceding lead in their respective matches.

SNGPL were 230-6 after Lahore Whites posted 367 at the Gaddafi Stadium. Mohammad Hafeez made an entertaining 62 with his 79-ball effort laced with 12 fours and one six.

UBL, meanwhile, had struggled to 260-8 after Peshawar made 311 at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar despite all-rounder Hammad Azam contributing 78.

Close of play scores on Sunday (day two of four):

Third round:

Pool ‘A’:

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: KARACHI BLUES 157 in 57.4 overs (Mohammad Sami 44, Fazal Subhan 34, Haris Ali 26; Yamin Ahmadzai 4-36, Usman Khan Shinwari 3-13, Abdur Rehman 2-33); HBL 255-6 in 97 overs (Imran Farhat 64, Ahmed Shehzad 54, Ramiz Aziz 32 not out, Imam-ul-Haq 26, Azeem Ghumman 23, Jamal Anwar 21 not out).

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: LAHORE BLUES 266 in 117.4 overs (Waqas Saleem 122, Raza Ali Dar 74, Mohammad Ikhlaq 30; Zafar Gohar 6-80, Zia-ul-Haq 2-43, Shoaib Malik 2-53); SSGC 184-3 in 54 overs (Awais Zia 78, Adil Amin 47, Asif Zakir 35 not out, Fawad Alam 22 not out; Haider Ali 2-53).

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi (day-night fixture): WAPDA 504 in 142.4 overs (Kamran Akmal 103, Khalid Usman 96 not out, Mohammad Saad 94, Salman Butt 76, Zahid Mansoor 46, Adnan Raees 34; Imad Wasim 4-90, Hasan Ali 2-101); ISLAMABAD 113-4 in 35 overs (Raheel Majeed 46, Shahid Yousuf 37 not out; Waqas Maqsood 3-28).

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar: PESHAWAR 311 in 90.3 overs (Ashfaq Ahmed 75, Israrullah 67, Mehran Ibrahim 49, Akbar Badshah 46; Sameen Gul 3-43, Zohaib Shera 2-60, Karamat Ali 2-72); UBL 260-8 in 79 overs (Hammad Azam 78, Umar Siddique 35, Akbar-ur-Rehman 33, Sharjeel Khan 28, Karamat Ali 28 not out, Shan Masood 26; Israrullah 2-11, Taj Wali 2-51, Nasir Ahmed 2-81).

Pool ‘B’:

At National Stadium, Karachi: KRL 145 in 56.2 overs (Zulfiqar Jan 57 not out, Saeed Anwar Jr 30, Abdul Rehman Muzammil 23; Tabish Khan 3-50, Maroof Aziz 3-51, Raza-ul-Hasan 2-4, Faraz Ali 2-22) and 237 in 62 overs (Sardar Hasan 72, Nayyar Abbas 47, Mohammad Abbas 40; Tabish Khan 5-53, Raza-ul-Hasan 2-37, Faraz Ali 2-50); KARACHI WHITES 77 in 30.5 overs (Mohammad Hasan 24; Mohammad Abbas 6-47, Sadaf Hussain 4-26) and 30-0 in 8 overs.

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore: LAHORE WHITES 367 in 106 overs (Anas Mahmood 147, Farhan Khan 68 not out, Gohar Hafeez 54, Umaid Asif 43; Imran Khalid 4-80, Manzoor Khan 3-97, Imran Ali 2-76); SNGPL 230-6 in 64 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 62, Iftikhar Ahmed 41, Mohammad Rizwan 36 not out, Hussain Talat 28 not out, Imran Butt 27; Qaiser Ashraf 2-42.

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: FATA 237 in 62.5 overs (Fawad Khan 65, Asif Afridi 58, Mohammad Naeem 24, Mohammad Irfan 20; Tahir Khan 3-33, Ali Imran Pasha 3-47, Anwar Ali 2-48, Aizaz Cheema 2-57) and 114-2 in 25 overs (Mohammad Naeem 61 not out, Fawad Khan 41; Tahir Khan 2-31); PIA 235 in 76.5 overs (Anwar Ali 52, Faisal Iqbal Kamran Sajid 40, Najaf Shah 40; Irfanullah Shah 5-49, Saad Altaf 4-91).

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: RAWALPINDI 266 in 89.2 overs (Sarmad Hameed 85, Umar Waheed 68, Sohail Tanvir 34, Aaqib Shah 24; Altaf Ahmed 4-69, Mohammad Irfan 3-83, Atif Jabbar 2-49); NBP 224-6 in 78 overs (Rameez Raja 52, Naved Yasin 44 not out, Faizan Khan 35 not out, Qaiser Abbas 26, Usman Salahuddin 21; Sohail Tanvir 3-46, Ataullah 2-40).

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2016