KARACHI: The top-of-the-table clash between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Pakistan Cup on Sunday turned out to be a dampener as heavy rains in Rawalpindi forced the match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium to be abandoned during the second half.

Umpires Khalid Mahmood and Zameer Haider officially called off the match at 9:20pm after it became increasingly apparent that there was no likelihood of play restarting, even though the cut-off time was 9:47pm. Balochistan had advanced to 129-3 after 17.5 overs in pursuit of a target of 359 when the heavens just after 8:00pm to inundate the ground situated in the garrison city.

Balochistan, who needed to be 159 after 20 overs — the mandatory law to constitute an outright result in weather-hit matches — in order to win the match on the Duckworth-Lewis Method, gained one point as their opponents with both teams still undefeated and levelled on five points apiece with Balochistan topping the five-team standings on net run-rate.

Awais Zia, the left-handed opening batsman who played for the country in five Twenty20 Internationals, was closing in on his seventh one-day hundred but his hopes vanished with the rains. The 32-year-old had been comfortably the chief run-getter.

Awais, who struck a dozen fours and a six in his 62-ball knock of 84, first outscored fellow left-hander Zeeshan Ashraf in their first-wicket partnership of 92 which was terminated on the second delivery of the 12th over when Zeeshan (26 off 24 balls, five boundaries) was caught by Sohail Khan off fellow paceman Umaid Asif.

Wahab Riaz then dented Balochistan’s aspirations further when a rising ball saw skipper Asad Shafiq (1) fending a simple catch to wicket-keeper and one-time Test team-mate Adnan Akmal.

Umaid picked up his second wicket when Umar Akmal, who come into this fixture with scores of 136 (not out) and 99, was brilliantly held inside the midwicket boundary by a sprinting Abid Ali for just seven.

Earlier, skipper Salman Butt, who registered his 24th century in 204 List A matches, and Abid Ali dominated the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa innings after both openers had survived close calls.

Abid, who is among the 23 probables called up for the World Cup fitness test next week in Lahore, finally came to the party in great style after starting the competition two failures. The right-hander was let off before opening his account by the gangling figure of former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan when the left-armer failed to grasp a return catch on his follow through.

But thereafter Abid not only blossomed but outscored Salman during their magnificent stand of 168 inside 26 overs. The strongly-built opener cut, pulled and drove with gusto to hammer 14 fours and four sixes to reach 95 before his 77-ball innings was ended by a howler from ex-international Zameer Haider.

Replays confirmed that the impact of the delivery from upcoming speedster Haris Rauf was outside the off-stump just as Abid shuffled across his stumps but umpire Zameer still opted to raise his finger.

Salman, however, was not to be denied three figures as the former Pakistan left-hander reached 133 from 132 balls while striking 16 fours and one six until he was the run out with the total on 325.

Adil Amin also played a good hand as the right-hander hit a 44-ball 50 that featured seven fours and one six while helping Salman put on 93 for the second wicket.

Scoreboard

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA:

Salman Butt run out 133
Abid Ali lbw b Haris 95
Adil Amin c and b Amad 50
Khushdil Shah c Asad b Irfan 20
Zohaib Khan c Awais b Amad 15
Wahab Riaz c Ali b Haris 6
Sohail Khan not out 14
Mohammad Saad not out 8

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-5, W-8) 17

TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs) 358

FALL OF WKTS: 1-168, 2-261, 3-296, 4-323, 5-325, 6-311.

DID NOT BAT: Adnan Akmal, Umaid Asif, Mohammad Musa Khan.

BOWLING: Mohammad Irfan 10-0-43-1; Haris Rauf 10-0-70-2 (4w); Umar Khan 10-0-77-0 (1w); Amad Butt 10-0-77-2 (3w); Ali Imran 6-0-62-0; Asad Shafiq 4-0-20-0.

BALOCHISTAN:

Awais Zia not out 84
Zeeshan Ashraf c Sohail b Umaid 26
Asad Shafiq c Adnan b Wahab 1
Umar Akmal c Abid b Umaid 7
Fawad Alam not out 4

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-5) 7

TOTAL (for three wkts, 17.5 overs) 129

FALL OF WKTS: 1-92, 2-100, 3-111.

DID NOT BAT: Ali Imran, Amad Butt, Waqar Hussain, Umar Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Irfan.

BOWLING: Sohail Khan 4-0-33-0 (1w); Umaid Asif 4.5-0-37-2 (2w); Mohammad Musa Khan 3-0-24-0; Wahab Riaz 5-0-18-1 (1w); Adil Amin 1-0-15-0.

RESULT: Match abandoned.

UMPIRES: Khalid Mahmood and Zameer Haider.

TV UMPIRE: Mohammad Asif.

MATCH REFEREE: Mohammad Javed.

MONDAY’S FIXTURE: Federal Areas vs Punjab (2:00pm PST).

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2019 Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2019