THE race for the two finals in the Faysal Bank Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship began on Monday with all contenders making satisfactory progress on the opening day of action in the last round of matches.

In the top tier Super Eight competition, Group ‘A’ leaders Rawalpindi took early honours as they posted a competitive 292 in their first innings against second-placed Sialkot before being all out in the dying minutes at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Put into bat first by Sialkot captain Shoaib Malik, who won the toss and picked up the wickets of openers Awais Zia (23) and Haseeb Azam (1) to leave the home side struggling at 45-2. Test discard Umar Amin, back in the fold after Pakistan ‘A’ duties, scored 75 while adorning his 138-ball knock with seven boundaries.

Adnan Mufti hit up a 99-ball 54 that included four fours. He and wicket-keeper Jamal Anwar (32) put on 74 after Rawalpindi, who are missing the services of all-rounder Sohail Tanvir (currently turning out for Highveld Lions in the South African domestic T20 Cup), lost their sixth wicket at 199.

Upcoming paceman Bilawal Bhatti — who had a mixed season because of fitness issues — claimed his 200th first-class wicket on his way to figures of four for 71 in 20.2 overs. Malik took 3-62 in 25 overs.

Lahore Shalimar, who still are very much in contention despite being nine points behind Group ‘B’ toppers Karachi Blues, bludgeoned 195-1 after Hyderabad skipper Sharjeel Khan won the toss and opted to field at the LCCA Ground in Lahore.

The start was delayed until after 2:30pm following heavy rains in the Punjab metropolis a couple of days ago which inundated the outfield and playing square. After a lot of efforts by the groundstaff to dry up the ground, Lahore Shalimar openers Imran Butt and captain Kamran Akmal shared a partnership of 153.

Kamran smashed 70 from 92 balls with eight fours before falling to Lal Kumar. Young Imran struck a dozen boundaries in making 79 (110 balls), while Umar Akmal upped the tempo further by striking four fours in his unbeaten 36 off 32 balls.

Karachi Blues, who need just three points to reach the Feb 24-28 final, had reached 126-4 after dismissing Lahore Ravi for 175 in their first innings at the adjacent Gaddafi Stadium. Put into bat by Khurram Manzoor, the Ravians lost Sami Aslam to the fourth ball of the match for a duck and were soon reeling at 6-3.

Only skipper Adnan Akmal (56 off 84 balls, 10 fours) managed to offer fight to the Blues for whom Tabish Khan and Tariq Haroon each bagged three wickets.

Fakhar Zaman, who is making a good impression in his maiden first-class season, then stroked 10 boundaries in making 64 from 75 deliveries and put on 76 for the third wicket with Akbar-ur-Rehman (38).

In the inconsequential Group ‘A’ tie at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad, hosts Islamabad rode on opener Shan Masood’s career-best 131 not out (264 balls, 15 fours) to pile up 278-5 after electing to bat against Karachi Whites.

Bahawalpur, bidding to make Bottoms Six Teams event final from Pool ‘B’, made 292 in their first innings after winning the toss against Peshawar at the Mirpur Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

The pool leaders built their healthy total around the useful contributions of Hamid Ali (89 off 130 balls, 10 fours and one six), skipper Rehan Rafiq (66 off 141, five fours) and all-rounders Ansar Javed (41) and Kamran Hussain (38). Hamid and Rehan were involved in a fourth-wicket partnership worth 146 runs after their side was in trouble at 35-3.

For Peshawar, paceman Afaq Ahmed took his maiden five-for as he finished with excellent analysis of 6-46 in 15.5 overs.

Slow left-armer Zulfiqar Babar snared six for 77 in 30 overs as Multan restricted Pool ‘B’ leaders Faisalabad to 256 all out in their first innings at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan.

Captain Mohammad Salman’s decision to bat first upon winning the toss somewhat backfired as the visitors lost half their side for 123. But left-hander Ali Waqas stood firm as he defied the Multan bowling to remain undefeated with 105 (191 balls, 12 boundaries).

Multan lost both openers, Yasir Butt and Zeeshan Ashraf, to the seasoned left-arm paceman Samiullah Khan Niazi in reaching 33-2 in their reply.

Multan have to win outright to qualify for the Feb 24-28 final, while Faisalabad just require a draw even if they concede first innings’ points.

Close of play scores on Monday (day one of four): Super Eight: At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore: LAHORE RAVI 175 in 55.2 overs (Adnan Akmal 56, Imran Ali 34 not out, Jahangir Mirza 27; Tariq Haroon 3-48, Tabish Khan 3-53, Zohaib Shera 2-42); KARACHI BLUES 126-4 in 27 overs (Fakhar Zaman 64, Akbar-ur-Rehman 38; Mohammad Irshad 3-48).

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: LAHORE SHALIMAR 195-1 in 39 overs (Imran Butt 79 not out, Kamran Akmal 70, Umar Akmal 36 not out) v HYDERABAD.

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: RAWALPINDI 294 in 88.2 overs (Umar Amin 75, Adnan Mufti 54, Jamal Anwar 32, Babar Naeem 29, Shoaib Ahmed Minhas 29; Bilawal Bhatti 4-71, Shoaib Malik 3-62, Mohammad Ali 2-56) v SIALKOT.

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: ISLAMABAD 278-5 in 90 overs (Shan Masood 131 not out, Ali Sarfraz 50, Imad Wasim 28; Mohammad Sami 2-61, Abdul Ameer 2-82) v KARACHI WHITES.

Bottom Six Teams: At Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan: FAISALABAD 256 in 76.5 overs (Ali Waqas 105 not out, Mohammad Shahid 38, Asif Ali 33, Imran Khalid 27; Zulfiqar Babar 6-77, Saeed Anwar Jr 2-15); MULTAN 33-2 in 11 overs (Samiullah Khan Niazi 2-19).

At Mirpur Cricket Stadium, Mirpur: BAHAWALPUR 292 in 82.5 overs (Hamid 89, Rehan Rafiq 66, Ansar Javed 41, Kamran Hussain 38; Afaq Ahmed 6-46, Azizullah 2-71); PESHAWAR 6-1 in 3 overs.