KARACHI: Pakistan Test batter Azhar Ali struck another century as Central Punjab piled up 300 for the loss of three wickets against Northern on the first day of the fourth round of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium on Saturday.

Azhar was batting on 130 with Tayyab Tahir on 82 at the other end as the pair put up 168 for the unfinished fourth wicket partnership between them.

The two boosted Central Punjab after Pakistan Test spinner Nauman Ali had picked up two of the three wickets to reduce the former champions to 132-3.

Azhar hit 15 fours and a six in his 209-ball innings while Tayyab smashed six boundaries in his 130-ball knock after openers Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Saad departed early.

At the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Kamran Ghulam (89 not out) and Mohammad Sarwar Afridi (79) helped Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recover after Sindh bowlers left them reeling at 128-5. The two batters collaborated for 163 runs for the sixth wicket to take their team to 291-5 by stumps.

Earlier, Sahibzada Farhan (53) and Rehan Afridi (47) had added 98 runs for the third wicket to lift the defending championship to 111-2 Sindh pacer Mir Hamza had removed both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa openers.

Fast bowler Mohammad Umar picked up two wickets after Arbab Ahmed had ended the third wicket partnership by accounting for Rehan.

Att the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Balochistan recovered from 102-3 to finish the day at 225-4 against Southern Punjab. Former Test batter Asad Shafiq saved his side’s blushes when he returned undefeated on 70 off 111.

Asad added 112 for the fourth wicket with Haris Sohail, who contributed 37, after openers Ali Waqas (45) and Imran Butt (30) had provided Balochistan a 73-run start before they lost three wickets for 29 runs.

Scores in brief:

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 291-5 against Sindh at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA 291-5 in 90 overs (Kamran Ghulam 89 not out, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi 79 not out; Mir Hamza 2-38, Mohammad Umar 2-45)

Balochistan 225-4 against Southern Punjab at the Abbotabad Cricket Stadium, Abbotabad

BALOCHISTAN 225-4 in 83 overs (Asad Shafiq 70 not out, Ali Waqas 45; Muhammad Imran Randhawa 2-34)

Central Punjab 300-3 against Northern at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

CENTRAL PUNJAB 300-3 in 86 overs (Azhar Ali 130 not out, Tayyab Tahir 82 not out; Nauman Ali 2-93).

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2022