LAHORE: Test discard and tainted fast bowler Mohammmad Asif produced a devastating bowling spell to inspire Wapda to score an impressive innings and seven runs win over Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) inside two days in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship at the State Bank Ground in Karachi on Monday.

The pace duo of Asif and Waqas Maqsood gave no respite to the KRL batsmen who required just 72 more to avoid an innings defeat but were bowled out for a paltry second innings score of 65 to go down.

Waqas, who had wrecked through KRL batting with fantastic figures of nine for 32 in the first innings, bagged three more wickets to finsh with brilliant figures of 12 for 41. He was, though, outshined by pace partner Asif who captured 6 for 23 in a brilliant exhibition of seam bowling.

Earlier, Wapda too could not bat with authority as they were all out for 167 in 49.3 overs, after resuming from 96 for six with Khalid Usman giving some respect to the total with a 115-ball knock of 86, laced with 11 boundaries and two sixes. For KRL, Sadaf Hussain was the top wicket-taker with five for 51 while Ahmad Bashir finished with 3-42 and Yasir Ali 2-25.

Finishing of a premier event’s match, inside two days, where fast bowlers held the sway, has exposed the non-sporting attitude of the pitches, being made for the domestic matches.

At the NBP Stadium, fine centuries by Khurram Shahzad and Azhar Ali and equally good batting by Iftikhar Ahmed and Asad Shafiq put Sui Northern Gas Pipe Lines (SNGPL) in a strong position against Habib Bank Limited (HBL).

Resuming the first innings from healthy total of 294 for two, SNGPL piled up 511 all out in 150.1 overs. Khurram, who resumed from 113 hit a knock of 133 off 248 balls. He slammed five sixes and 11 elegant boundaries. Iftikhar Ahmed remained unlucky, giving away his wicket in nervous nineties, scoring 93 after negotiating with 173 balls. He cracked seven fours. Test batsman Asad made a polished 78 off 154 balls with five fours.

Earlier, Azhar had scored a century on the first day. Ammad Butt (6-106) remained the main wicket-taker for HBL while leg-spinner Abdul Rehman proved expensive with three wickets for 194.

By the close of play, HBL were 23 for one.

In another match being played between the teams of the Lahore Region, fine batting by Saad Nasim (83), Tayyab Tahir (83) and Farhan Khan (55) put the Blues in commanding position against Whites at the UBL ground.

In reply to the Whites’ first-innings total of 141, the Blues mustered a hefty 140-run lead by collecting a total of 281 all out in 75.1 overs.

The Whites were reeling at 151 for 5 by close of play. Pacer Aizaz Cheema was the pick of the bowlers for the Blues with fine figures of four for 31 to his credit. Only Anas Mahmood (54) and Umaid Asif (50) saved the blushes for the Whites.

At the Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, in-form Fawad Alam hit an unbeaten 123 to help Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to earn a 21 run lead by collecting a total of 273 for eight in 84 overs by the close of play while replying to United Bank Limited’s (UBL) first innings total of 252.

Fawad belted 13 boundaries while facing 214 balls. He was ably supported by Kashif Bhatti, who made 51. Pacer Sohail Khan (3-69) and Mir Hamza (2-62) are so far the most successful bowlers for UBL.

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

Group-I:

At UBL ground No.1, Karachi.

LAHORE WHITES (1st innings) 141 for all, 47.2 overs. 2nd innings: 151-5 in 90 overs: (Anas Mahmood 54, Umaid Asif 50; Aizaz Cheema 4-31).

LAHORE BLUES (1st innings, overnight 150-4): 281 for all, 75.1 overs. (Tayyab Tahir 83, Saad Nasim 83, Farhan Khan 55; Umaid Asif 4-73, Waqas Ahmed 3-106, Muhammad Irfan 2-24).

At NBP Stadium, Karachi.

SNGPL (1st innings, overnight 294-2) 511 for all out, in 150.1 overs: (Khurram Shahzad 133, Azhar Ali 118, Iftikhar Ahmed 93, Asad Shafiq 78, Muhammad Hafeez 37; Ammad Butt 6-106, Abdul Rehman 3-194).

HBL (1st innings) 23-1 in 14 overs:

Group-II:

At State Bank ground, Karachi.

KRL (1st innings) 95 for all, in 42.3 overs and 2nd innings: 65 for all, in 28.4 overs: (Saif Badar 22; Muhammad Asif 6-23, Waqas Maqsood 3-9).

WAPDA (1st innings, overnight 96-6) 167 for all 49.3 overs: (Khalid Usman 86; Sadaf Hussain 5-51, Ahmed Bashir 3-42, Yasir Ali 2-25).

Result: WAPDA won by an inning and seven runs.

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad.

UBL (1st innings) 252 for all in 79.3 overs.

SSGC (1st innings, overnight 31-2) 273-8 in 84 overs: (Fawad Alam 123 not out, Kashif Bhatti 51, Muzammil Nizam 39; Sohail Khan 3-69, Mir Hamza 2-62).

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2017