ZTBL struggle in chase as Ghani Glass hit back

KARACHI: Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL)’s hopes of returning to first-class cricket next season hung in the balance on Monday after Ghani Glass staged a dramatic comeback in their four-day Patron’s Trophy Grade-II tournament final in Rawalpindi.

At stumps on the penultimate day of the title-deciding fixture at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, ZTBL were down in the mire at 61-4 while chasing a modest 132-run target after Ghani Glass had rallied to 369 all out in their second innings.

Having reached 182-1 after being forced to follow on when they were bowled out for 55 early on Sunday, Ghani Glass recovered well through to the second-wicket partnership of 186 between Zeeshan Ashraf and Yousuf Babar.

Zeeshan fell after adding 14 to his overnight score of 105 to part-time spinner Mohsin Nadeem. The opener’s 119 off 217 balls in a stay of 289 minutes included 16 boundaries.

Yousuf departed for a patient 84 in a 246-ball effort spanning 348minutes while striking seven fours. He was caught behind off paceman Bilawal Iqbal.

ZTBL continued to make inroads after ending the Zeeshan-Yousuf stand but Mohammad Waheed held up one end intact as he scored 63 from 139 balls with the aid of eight boundaries in 210 minutes before becoming one of three wickets for fast bowler Mohammad Ali.

ZTBL’s chase then got off to the worst possible start as upcoming paceman Mohammad Umar cleaned up Saadullah Ghauri and Usman Ashraf with the first two deliveries of the second innings.

Ghani Glass picked up two more wickets to leave ZTBL in further trouble at 54-4 with Umar getting rid of opener Waqas Saleem for 18 to finish the day with figures of three for 27 from six overs.

With 71 still required on Tuesday’s last day, ZTBL will be pinning their hopes on the shoulders of Aaqib Shah, who was the top-scorer in the first innings with 72. He is at the crease with 22 alongside nightwatchman Bilawal Iqbal (1).

ZTBL (1st Innings) 293 (Aaqib Shah 72, Saad Nasim 71, Shakeel Ansar 52, Raza Ali Dar 26; Mohammad Umar 4-120, Hasnain Bukhari 3-41, Ulfat Shah 2-58).

GHANI GLASS 55 (Zeeshan Ashraf 14; Hamza Nadeem 3-17, Bilawal Iqbal 3-27, Waqas Saleem 2-4, Mohammad Ali 2-5).

Scoreboard

GHANI GLASS (2nd Innings, overnight 182-1):

Zeeshan Ashraf c Shakeel b Mohsin 119

Afaq Shahid c Usman b Hamza 11

Yousuf Babar c Shakeel b Bilawal 84

Tayyab Tahir run out 6

Mohammad Waheed c Shakeel b Ali 63

Hasnain Bukhari c Mohsin b Ali 11

Shahbaz Javed lbw b Mohsin 28

Ulfat Shah c Waqas b Bilawal 23

Moeez Ghani b Ali 0

Mohammad Umar b Hamza 4

Abdul Mateen not out 8

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-3, W-4, NB-4) 12

TOTAL (all out, 130.2 overs) 369

FALL OF WKTS: 1-22, 2-208, 3-217, 4-246, 5-274, 6-337, 7-341, 8-341, 9-361.

BOWLING: Bilawal Iqbal 24-4-58-2 (1nb, 2w); Hamza Nadeem 24.2-2-88-2 (1w); Mohammad Ali 30-5-68-3 (2nb, 1w); Waqas Saleem 13-4-32-0; Usman Ashraf 9-0-46-0 (1nb); Raza Ali Dar 15-3-35-0; Saadullah Ghauri 1-0-7-0; Mohsin Nadeem 14-2-31-2.

ZTBL (2nd Innings):

Saadullah Ghauri b Umar 0

Waqas Saleem c Moeez b Umar 18

Usman Ashraf b Umar 0

Mohsin Nadeem lbw b Ulfat 10

Aaqib Shah not out 22

Bilawal Iqbal not out 1

EXTRAS (B-3, NB-7) 10

TOTAL (for four wkts, 15 overs) 61

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-0, 3-23, 4-54.

BOWLING (to-date): Mohammad Umar

6-0-27-3 (4nb); Ulfat Shah 5-1-189-1 (2nb); Abdul Mateen 0.5-0-0-0; Mohammad Waheed 3.1-0-12-0 (1nb).