KARACHI: Karachi Whites somewhat let ZTBL off the hook at the start of the third-round fixture in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship when the last pair shared a remarkable partnership of 92 to enable the departmental side reach 207 at the National Stadium here on Sunday.

After opting to bat first, ZTBL were reeling at 115-9 but Usman Ashraf, who had come into bat at 100-5, and Mohammad Ali (17 off 69 balls) occupied the crease together for 98 minutes. Usman remained undefeated with an enterprising 86 from 105 balls while striking 15 fours and one six.

Opener Anas Mustafa contributed an 82-ball 56 with the aid of 10 boundaries. Seamer Adeel Malik captured four wickets for 38 runs in 20 overs before Karachi Whites reached stumps at 26 without loss.

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt played his first significant innings in the championship as the left-handed opener compiled a patient 129 from 273 balls in 365 minutes to guide Wapda to 215-5 after opting to bat first against Lahore Blues at the LCCA Ground in Lahore.

Salman’s 22nd first-class century include only nine boundaries before falling to former Pakistan paceman Aizaz Cheema. He put on 111 for second wicket with Mohammad Saad in 167 minutes with the latter scoring 37 off 116 balls.

After their heartbreaking defeat against Peshawar in the previous round, HBL put up a decent batting effort to collect 325-5 after Lahore Whites skipper Usman Salahud­din opted to field at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Opener Abid Ali played a leading role in HBL’s revival as the right-hander scored 131 — the 30-year-old’s 14th hundred — as he went past 6,000 first-class runs in his 96th appearance. Abid struck 19 boundaries during his 254-ball knock in 315 minutes.

Abid and HBL skipper Imran Farhat (47) were involved in a fourth-wicket stand of 102 before Ramiz Aziz (53 off 83 balls, seven fours) and Zohaib Khan (30) engaged themselves in an unbroken partnership of 67.

Holders SNGPL were 196-3 after dismissing Islamabad for a paltry 108 at the Diamond Club Ground in the federal capital. Test left-armer Rahat Ali (3-37) and fellow paceman Azizullah (4-36) caused the main damage, while captain Mohammad Hafeez hit a bright 63 from 67 balls with eight fours to complete an excellent day for the champions.

All-rounder Haseeb Azam, brother of Pakistan discard Hammad Azam, scored 75 to help Rawalpindi collect a creditable 239-4 after PTV decided to bowl first at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Peshawar earned an unlikely first-day lead by closing at 125-9 after sending NBP packing for a measly 106 at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Lanky paceman Ataullah has so far taken 5-29.

Slow left-armer Kashif Bhatti picked up 5-33 as SSGCL bowled out Multan for 143 after the regional team had elected to bat at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The visitors advanced to 75-2 when play ended for the day.

KRL paceman Ali Shafiq grabbed a career-best 8-70 as Fata rode on Asad Afridi’s blazing 84-ball 97 (14 fours and one six) to post 253 all out at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium in Abbottabad. By stumps KRL were 43-0.

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

Third round:

Pool ‘A’:

At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad: NBP 106 in 38 overs (Rameez Raja 29; Altaf Ahmed 3-20, Nasir Ahmed 3-24, Taj Wali 3-45); PESHAWAR 125-9 in 39 overs (Ashfaq Ahmed 35, Musadiq Ahmed 23; Ataullah 5-29, Mir Hamza 3-29).

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore: HBL 325-5 in 90 overs (Abid Ali 131, Ramiz Aziz 53 not out, Imran Farhat 47, Zohaib Khan 30 not out, Agha Salman 28; Mohammad Waheed 2-66) vs LAHORE WHITES.

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: ISLAMABAD 108 in 36 overs (Mohammad Hamza Nadeem 36; Azizullah 4-36, Rahat Ali 3-37); SNGPL 196-3 in 48 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 63, Asad Shafiq 38 not out, Imran Butt 32, Naeemuddin 30, Iftikhar Ahmed 20 not out).

At Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad: FATA 253 in 67.4 overs (Asad Afridi 97, Asif Afridi 37, Rehan Afridi 36, Nisar Afridi 21; Ali Shafiq 8-70); KRL 43-0 in 9 overs (Shahid Ali 25 not out).

Pool ‘B’:

At National Stadium, Karachi: ZTBL 207 in 75.4 overs (Usman Ashraf 86 not out, Anas Mustafa 56, Aaqib Shah 20; Adeel Malik 4-38, Israr Ahmed Awan 2-27, Anwar Ali 2-45); KARACHI WHITES 26-0 in 12 overs.

At Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan: MULTAN 143 in 68 overs (Imran Rafiq 44; Kashif Bhatti 5-33, Sohail Khan 3-32); SSGCL 75-2 in 20 overs (Awais Zia 33 not out; Ahsan Baig 2-15).

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: WAPDA 215-5 in 89.5 overs (Salman Butt 129, Mohammad Saad 37, Aamir Sajjad 26; Asadullah 2-27, Zafar Gohar 2-67) vs LAHORE BLUES.

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: RAWALPINDI 239-4 in 90 overs (Haseeb Azam 75, Tayyab Riaz 68, Mukhtar Ahmed 52 not out; Tabish Khan 3-68) vs PTV.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2018