KARACHI: Punjab were left still searching for their first victory in the Cool & Cool presents QMobile Pakistan Cup after their game against Federal Areas on Sunday was abandoned because of heavy downpour in Rawalpindi.

Both teams were awarded one point apiece while effectively pushing Balochistan, who lead the standings with three straight victories, through to next Saturday’s final.

Rooted to the base of the standings before the start of this fixture with no point after suffering defeats against Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in their opening fixtures at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Punjab were hoping for better luck after skipper Umar Akmal opted to field first at the toss.

But Federal Areas denied them early wickets as Sami Aslam and Abid Ali launched the innings in blazing fashion by rattling up 81 runs in only 59 balls before Punjab got rid of both openers in the space of five deliveries.

Abid was caught behind by Kamran Akmal off all-rounder Fahim Ashraf for a 31-ball 30, which included 26 runs in boundaries (five fours and one six). The left-handed Sami departed in the next over when he edged left-arm paceman Junaid Khan to Kamran after blasting an uncharacteristic 46 off 31 balls with five fours and three sixes.

Federal Areas then consolidated their position on the back of a solid partnership involving the experienced Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez and Haris Sohail who together forged a partnership of 114 in 125 balls for the third wicket.

At that point Hafeez was cleaned up by Khushdil Shah’s left-arm spin in the 32nd over after having scored 65 off 77 deliveries with the aid of six fours and one six.

Haris, who is now in serious contention for a recall to the Pakistan squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, continued his rehabilitation from injury with another good knock. The left-hander made 60 from 64 balls with four boundaries before being caught by Raza Ali Dar off off-spinner Bilal Asif.

Skipper Imad Wasim lashed a brace of sixes in a quickfire 17-ball 23 before rains lashed the stadium at 6:40pm with Federal Areas on 236-4 after 38.2 overs.

Scoreboard

FEDERAL AREAS:

Sami Aslam c Kamran b Junaid 46

Abid Ali c Kamran b Fahim 30

Mohammad Hafeez b Khushdil 65

Haris Sohail c Raza b Bilal 60

Imad Wasim not our 23

Hussain Talat not out 7

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-1) 5

TOTAL (for four wkts, 38.2 overs) 236

FALL OF WKTS: 1-81, 2-81, 3-195, 4-212.

DID NOT BAT: Zohaib Ahmed, Hassaan Khan, Sohail Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sameen Gul.

BOWLING: Raza Ali Dar 3—26-0; Junaid Khan 4.2-0-28-1; Fahim Ashraf 5-0-19-1 (1w); Zulfiqar Babar 7-0-51-0; Bilal Asif 8-0-40-1; Khushdil Shah 5-0-27-1; Arsal Shaikh 6-0-41-0.

PUNJAB: Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Raza Ali Dar, Fahim Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Bilal Asif, Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid Khan, Arsal Shaikh.

RESULT: Match abandoned due to heavy rain.

UMPIRES: Khalid Mahmood and Riazuddin.

TV UMPIRE: Shozab Raza.

MATCH REFEREE: Mohammad Anees.

TUESDAY’S FIXTURE: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vs Sindh (4:00pm PST).'

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2017