KARACHI: The opening day of the Quad-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship first-class season began on a sensational note when Pakistan speedster Sohail Khan debuted for United Bank Limited (UBL) with a fiery burst against Karachi Whites here on Tuesday.

On a fresh pitch which offered appreciable help Sohail took a liking for the pronounced seam which the ‘Duke’ brand ball offers on its first maiden appearance in Pakistan after the PCB decided to use the English-made balls during the championship.

Karachi Whites, put into bat by Hammad Azam — leading UBL in the forced absence of Shan Masood (Test duty in the UAE) and Sohaib Maqsood (fitness issues) — did well to post a fighting total of 208 after Sohail had left them in the mire at 38-5.

By stumps in the four-day encounter UBL had posted 102-3 in their reply.

Sohail’s opening spell fetched the 33-year-old right-armer five wickets for 24 runs in 33 deliveries. Hamza Ghanchi (0) was held at second slip by Umar Akmal, another UBL debutant, before another debutant Mohammad Nawaz held a catch offered by Khurram Manzoor (11).

Faraz Ali was then trapped in front for five before Sohail cleaned up Mohammad Waqas (11) and had Mohtashim Ali caught behind by Gulraiz Sadaf on successive balls.

Long-discarded Pakistan batsman Faisal Iqbal nudged the national selectors yet again with a superb run-a-ball effort of 52, containing nine boundaries, while skipper Mohammad Hasan enhanced his credentials with a 93-ball 67 that included 11 fours as the two added 75 for the sixth wicket.

Both fell LBW with Faisal dismissed by the recently-married Pakistan T20 specialist seamer Rumman Raees Khan and Hasan falling to the spin of Mohammad Nawaz, the third newcomer in the UBL ranks.

Sohail finished with 6-59 in 15 overs before Umar Akmal batted fluently to make 47 off 59 balls (seven fours) until he got himself out, held in the covers by Mohtashim, as he attempted to charge slow left-armer Azam Hussain.

Three days after being overlooked for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, HBL captain Ahmed Shehzad scored 73 (133 balls, eight fours and one six) in a total of 238 all out after Fata chose to bowl first at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot.

Paceman Sohail Akhtar claimed 5-45 but his heroics could be in vain as Fata nosedived to 46-4 with Pakistan seamer Umar Gul taking a brace in his latest comeback from injury.

International umpire Riazuddin reached a coveted milestone on Tuesday as he became the first Pakistani to officiate in 300

first-class matches during the Group ‘A’ fixture between Islamabad and SSGC at the Diamond Club Ground.

The 58-year-old from Karachi, who had also served on the ICC panel during a career which saw him stand in 12 Tests and as many One-day Internationals, is standing alongside Qaiser Waheed in his landmark game.

SSGC, who were asked to bat first, had collected 292-7 with Asif Zakir, who toured West Indies without getting a chance, striking a dozen boundaries in his top-score of 89 off 174 balls.

Holders Wapda progressed to 297-9, courtesy of 36-year-old Aamir Sajjad’s 17th first-class hundred, after skipper Salman But opted to bat against Lahore Blues at the Gaddafi Stadium. Aamir was still going strong on 106 (199 balls, 11 fours), while Salman made 38.

Hard-hitting right-hander Asif Ali hit 101 (160 balls, 16 fours and one six) as Faisalabad made a return to topflight competition on a decent note by advancing to 276-6 after NBP decided to bowl first at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

Pakistan Television (PTV), the department who are playing at this level after a while, had a tough day one as they struggled to 37-3 after Lahore Whites had totalled 244 in their first innings at the LCCA Ground in Lahore.

Former champions SNGPL also disappointed when Peshawar curtailed them to 207 all out after Mohammad Hafeez won the toss at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.

Peshawar replied with 46-1.

KRL enjoyed a good day as they reached stumps at 56-0 after bowling out Rawalpindi for just 174 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. Yasir Ali, who made a solitary Test appearance at Multan against Bangladesh 14 years ago, captured 6-50 in 17.3 overs.

Close of play scores on Wednesday (day one of four):

Group ‘A’:

At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad: FAISALABAD 276-6 in 90 overs (Asif Ali 101, Abdul Samad 59, Hasan Mahmood 33 not out; Raza Hasan 3-87, Hazrat Shah 2-75) vs NBP.

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore: WAPDA 297-9 in 88.2 overs (Aamir Sajjad 106 not out, Khalid Usman 45, Salman Butt 38, Kamran Akmal 34, Khushdil Shah 30; Aizaz Cheema 2-27, Bilawal Iqbal 2-51, Saif-ur-Rehman 2-55) vs LAHORE BLUES.

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: SSGC 292-7 in 85 overs (Asif Zakir 89, Zain Abbas 44, Shoaib Malik 29, Umar Amin 28; Shehzad Azam Rana 2-59, Hamza Nadeem 2-63) vs ISLAMABAD.

At Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad: SNGPL 207 in 60 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 67, Mohammad Hafeez 36, Imran Butt 27; Mohammad Imran Khan 3-44, Shahzaib Ahmed Khan 2-19, Nasir Ahmed 2-47, Taj Wali 2-61); PESHAWAR 46-1 in 17 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 33 not out).

Group ‘B’:

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: KARACHI WHITES 208 in 51.3 overs (Mohammad Hasan 67, Faisal Iqbal 52, Azam Hussain 25 not out; Sohail Khan 6-59, Mohammad Nawaz 2-29); UBL 102-3 in 31 overs (Umar Akmal 47, Umar Siddique 39 not out).

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: LAHORE WHITES 244 in 73.2 overs (Mohammad Waqas 46, Mohammad Irfan 40, Rizwan Hussain 39, Salman Fayyaz 35, Umaid Asif 33; Raheel Majeed 3-23, Tabish Khan 3-56); PTV 37-3 in 14 overs (Waqas Ahmed 2-14).

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: HBL 238 in 70.4 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 73, Imam-ul-Haq 41, Rameez Aziz 35; Sohail Akhtar 5-45); FATA 46-4 in 9 overs (Umar Gul 2-11).

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: RAWALPINDI 174 in 70.3 overs (Umair Masood 53, Nazar Hussain 28, Sarmad Hameed 26; Yasir Ali 6-50, Sadaf Hussain 3-48); KRL 56-0 in 17 overs (Hasan Sardar 34 not out).

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2017