KARACHI: Despite veteran Fawad Alam scoring a century, Northern have given themselves an outside chance of victory in their First XI Quaid-e-Azam Trophy encounter against Sindh after taking an 82-run lead on the first innings at the National Stadium on Wednesday.

Sindh, who resumed at 247-5, were bowled out for 326 in response to Northern’s 408. By stumps on the penultimate day of the four-day fixture, Northern had advanced to 173-2 in the second innings to have an overall lead of 255.

Opener Zeeshan Malik was within sight of just his second first-class hundred as the 22-year-old right-hander hit 96 in 131 balls during a stay of 203 minutes with the aid of 13 fours and two sixes. Faizan Riaz, Northern’s batting hero on Monday with a dazzling 211, was the other batsman at the crease on 23.

The experienced Umar Amin, however, failed for the second time in three days as the Pakistan discard was out to a freak catch. The left-hander, who made 21, chipped the ball back to paceman Mir Hamza. The left-armer changed direction on the follow through to snap the chance in his right hand.

Shoaib Ahmed Minhas the other Northern batsman to fall for 29 while adding 86 for the second wicket with Zeeshan.

Earlier, Fawad — who resumed at 75 notched up his second ton of the championship — and 32nd of a 162-match first-class career — until he was caught by Faizan off Northern skipper Nauman Ali for 107 (161 balls, 14 boundaries) after having shared a partnership of 126 with his overnight partner Anwar Ali.

Anwar, starting the day on 41, departed for 69 (168 balls, nine fours and one six) with slow left-armer Nauman again the wicket-taker. Nauman eventually finished with 5-58 from 23 overs with his three wickets on Wednesday claimed for just seven runs.

The onset of winter in the Punjab curtailed play at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the third day running. In the 58.4 overs of action, leaders Central Punjab moved from 28-2 to 255-6 while replying to Balochistan’s imposing tally of 450.

The highlights of this game being the rescue act from the bats of Umar Akmal and Usman Salahuddin after Central Punjab had slumped to 84-4. Umar hit up 84 (102 balls, 11 fours and one six) and Usman is still batting with 74 (129 balls, 10 fours) while the two put on 124.

Slow left-armer Mohammad Asghar has so far snared three wickets for 81 runs in 24 overs.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the meantime, declared their first innings at 417-5 — giving the hosts a lead of 79 — in their response Southern Punjab’s 338 at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium in Abbottabad.

Ashfaq Ahmed was the star performer as the right-hander register his fourth century in the ongoing season. Starting the day on 81 in his team’s total of 160-2, Ashfaq went on to make 143 (254 balls, 18 fours and one six).

The home side was also served brilliantly by all-rounder Zohaib Khan (63 off 130 balls, seven boundaries) and wicket-keeper Rehan Afridi (84 off 105, 14 fours and one six) as the pair figured in unbroken stand of 167 in 130 minutes.

Southern Punjab openers Sami Aslam and Umar Siddique faced eight overs in the second innings before the visitors reached stumps at 15-0.

Close of scores on Wednesday (day three of four):

First XI:

Seventh round:

At National Stadium, Karachi: NORTHERN 408 in 93.2 overs (Faizan Riaz 211, Ali Sarfraz 60, Hammad Azam 59, Shoaib Ahmed Minhas 49; Sohail Khan 3-89, Mir Hamza 3-92, Hassaan Khan 2-49, Tabish Khan 2-84) and 173-2 in 43 overs (Zeeshan Malik 96 not out, Shoaib Ahmed Minhas 29, Faizan Riaz 23 not out, Umar Amin 21); SINDH 326 in 105.5 overs (Fawad Alam 107, Shahzar Mohammad 74, Anwar Ali 69, Saad Ali 23, Sarfraz Ahmed 22; Nauman Ali 5-58, Sadaf Hussain 2-50).

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore: BALOCHISTAN 450 in 124.1 overs (Imran Butt 137, Imran Farhat 87, Azeem Ghumman 72, Awais Zia 44, Taimur Khan 37, Hussain Talat 24, Umar Gul 20; Aizaz Cheema 5-100, Mohammad Ali 3-72); CENTRAL PUNJAB 255-6 in 66.4 overs (Umar Akmal 78, Usman Salahuddin 74 not out, Salman Butt 47; Mohammad Asghar 3-31).

At Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad: SOUTHERN PUNJAB 338 in 100.3 overs (Umar Siddique 88, Sohaib Maqsood 57, Agha Salman 45Sami Aslam 38, Zeeshan Ashraf 25; Ahmed Jamal 6-93, Junaid Khan 2-89) and 15-0 in 8 overs; KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA 417-5 declared in 113 overs (Ashfaq Ahmed 143, Rehan Afridi 84 not out, Zohaib Khan 63 not out, Sahibzada Farhan 47, Adil Amin 37, Fakhar Zaman 23; Umaid Asif 3-142).

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019