KARACHI: Northern’s slim hopes of making the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final for the second year running suffered a huge blow on Saturday as ruthless leaders Khyber Pakhtunkhwa piled up 380-4 on day one of the last-round fixture here at the National Stadium.

In the other match that would decide who’ll earn the right to take on the already-qualified Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Jan 1-5 title-decider at the National Stadium, reigning champions Central Punjab rode an Usman Salahuddin’s century to reach 309-4 versus fellow contenders Southern Punjab at the SBP Sports Complex.

Once captain Khalid Usman had won the toss, it was a grand performance from the rampaging Khyber Pakhtunkhwa batsmen in the televised game as Israrullah and wicket-keeper Rehan Afridi both hammered identical scores of 127 to spearhead the run avalanche.

Sahibzada Farhan vindicated his selection in place of the out-of-sorts Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman by partnering left-handed Israrullah in the opening partnership of 158 after the duo had put on 129-0 by lunch.

Farhan was trapped leg-before by spinning all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz for an 87-ball 68 that included six fours and three sixes.

Israrullah duly posted his 12th first-class before being dismissed by young all-rounder Mubasir Khan after having struck 17 boundaries and two sixes in a 142-ball knock.

Rehan, who came in at No 3, justified his promotion while sharing a stand of 146 with the in-form Kamran Ghulam. The wicket-keeper/batsman’s sixth hundred contained 17 fours and three sixes while the 28-year-old negotiated 167 deliveries until he was caught behind by Jamal Anwar off paceman Sadaf Hussain.

Kamran — who leads the batting chart in the ongoing championship -- was just 40 runs away from becoming the first batsman to cross the magical figure of 1,000 this season. The talented right-hander, having already scored three big hundreds, was on 53.

The toss in the Punjab derby was left uncontested but Central Punjab suffered a first-ball shock as Mohammad Akhlaq was adjudged LBW to seamer Aamir Yamin. But that mattered little as Ali Zaryab and Usman put on 143 before the left-handed Ali departed for a 146-ball innings of 78 (11 boundaries).

Usman finally reached three figures after making six half-centuries as the 30-year-old Test discard brought up his 24th first-class century and went on to end the day with an unbeaten 139 (268 balls, 20 fours). Saad Nasim batted aggressively for a 71-ball 72 (five fours and four sixes) while adding 116 for the fourth wicket with the well-set Usman.

In the battle of wooden-spoons at the UBL Sports Complex, Sindh’s weak bowling was yet again exposed as Balochistan rode on Akbar-ur-Rehman’s undefeated 125 (204 balls, 14 boundaries) to collect 314-5. Skipper Imran Farhat’s first innings in what will be final first-class appearance saw the former Pakistan score 42, while his fellow left-handed Ayaz Tasawwar hit up 72 during the 136-run partnership with Akbar.

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

First XI, 10th round:

At National Stadium, Karachi: KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA 380-4 in 89.5 overs (Israrullah 127, Rehan Afridi 127, Sahibzada Farhan 62, Kamran Ghulam 53 not out) vs NORTHERN.

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: BALOCHISTAN 314-5 in 90 overs (Akbar-ur-Rehman 125 not out, Ayaz Tasawwar 72, Imran Farhat 42, Bismillah Khan 42;Tabish Khan 2-63) vs SINDH.

At SBP Sports Complex, Karachi: CENTRAL PUNJAB 309-4 in 90 overs (Usman Salahuddin 139 not out, Ali Zaryab 78, Saad Nasim 78; Zahid Mahmood 2-104) vs SOUTHERN PUNJAB.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2020