KARACHI, Oct 17: A swashbuckling display by Test reject Imran Farhat put Pakistan XI in command on the second day of the four-day trial match against Karachi at the National Stadium on Monday.

The left-handed Imran blasted a carefree 89 off 94 deliveries to put himself in contention as Pakistan continue their search to find a reliable opening pair for next month’s Test series against England.

At stumps, Pakistan were 192 for two with Younis Khan looking in sublime touch with a lovely half-century. Shoaib Malik (20) partnered his skipper in the unbroken third-wicket partnership of 55.

Earlier, Karachi owed their first-innings total of 378 to invaluable contributions from Aminur Rahman, Tanvir Ahmed and Danish Kaneria, all of whom crossed the 30-run mark after Faisal Iqbal had perished at his overnight score of 101.

But the highlight of the day was the belligerence of Imran Farhat who as usual batted with gay abundance. The left-hander, who helped himself to 17 boundaries, escaped being dismissed for 20 when Karachi skipper Hasan Raza dropped a simple catch at second slip off Test fast bowler Mohammad Sami.

Kaneria, the Test leg-spinner, got rid of Imran when he deceived him in flight to end the second-wicket stand of 70 with Younis.

Kaneria was also responsible for breaking the opening partnership when he had Taufiq Umar caught at mid-wicket by Faisal Iqbal with his fourth ball of the innings.

Taufiq, once a regular member of the Test side before being sidelined due to lack of confidence, made only 14 despite being let off before opening his account by Asim Kamal in the gulley off Tanvir.

Earlier, the second new-ball saw two wickets falling for 14 runs after Karachi had resumed at 248 for five. Faisal provided Taufiq his third catch and paceman Mohammad Asif his third wicket of the innings in the day’s second over.

However, wicket-keeper Aminur Rahman batted with composure to strike five boundaries in reaching 31 until Abdul Razzaq pierced through his defence.

Tanvir, who had added 48 with Amin, then found an unexpected batting partner in Kaneria as the pair frustrated the Pakistan XI with a resilient ninth-wicket stand worth 60 runs.

Umar Gul sent back Kaneria but not before the tailender had hammered six boundaries on his way to 39 off 50 balls. Umar ended the innings by clean bowling Malik Aftab for three, leaving Tanvir unbeaten on 38, a 63-ball knock that included five hits to the fence.

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