KARACHI: Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) were left to rue their decision to bat first when they slumped to 143-7 against State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on the opening day of the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II cricket tournament semi-final in Islamabad on Tuesday.
After losing an early wicket, ZTBL made partial recovery but from 41-1 they found themselves in real mess at 49-5 as the pace quartet of Taj Wali, Umaid Asif, Ataullah and Nazar Hussain — all proven performers at first-class level — doing the damage.
Usman Ashraf (29 off 53 balls, four fours) and captain Saad Nasim, who is still at the crease with a 42-ball 48 inclusive of six fours and one six, added 63 before Umaid struck twice to leave ZTBL at 122-7 and in danger of being dismissed.
Only 46 overs were possible due to inclement weather conditions.
In the other semi-final at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) were 2-1 after Ghani Glass made fine comeback from 43-3 to reach a respectable 241 all out in their first innings after they asked to bat first by KPT captain Mohammad Hasan.
Mohammad Waheed held his side’s faltering innings together with a defiant knock of 81 in stay of 202 minutes. His 151-ball effort included 12 boundaries.
Tayyab Tahir also made a vital contribution of exactly 50 (65 balls, seven fours) as and Waheed shared a fourth-wicket stand of 85.
Left-arm seamer Husban Javed was the pick of the KPT bowling with analysis of five for 69 from 21 overs with Babar Rehman and spinner Rashid Hanif claiming two wickets apiece.
Close of play scores on Tuesday (day one of three):
Semi-finals:
At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: ZARAI TARAQIATI BANK LIMITED 143-7 in 46 overs (Saad Nasim 48 not out, Usman Ashraf 29; Umaid Asif 3-38, Nazar Hussain 2-9) vs STATE BANK.
At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: GHANI GLASS 241 in 80.1 overs (Mohammad Waheed 81, Tayyab Tahir 50, Ali Usman 29, Afaq Shahid 21, Ulfat Shah 21; Husban Javed 5-69, Rashid Hanif 2-58, Babar Rehman 2-64); KARACHI PORT TRUST 2-1 in 0.5 over.
Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2018
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