KARACHI: Sindh were ruthless with the bat against Balochistan to ensure no holds were barred in their pursuit to make it to the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy final in the tenth-round fixture at Lahore’s LCCA Ground on Monday.

Placed second in the Trophy standings, the Saud Shakil-led side cruised past the 600-run mark in the first innings after starting the second day at 349-1.

The major part of the mammoth toal came from Saud and opener Khurram Manzoor, who were on the crease at the start of the day. The pair extended second wicket partnership to 279 before Khurram fell to Balochistan spinner Kashif Bhatti after scoring 174 off 260 balls.

Saud managed 181, hitting 19 fours and a six in his 259-ball knock before Omair bin Yousuf added 71 runs.

Sindh were 607-4 when stumps were drawn for the day with Fawad Alam (55) and Saad Khan (57) on the crease. The two have so far added 103 runs for the fifth-wicket.

A draw will all but guarantee Sindh a place in the five-day tournament final, which will be played from Nov. 26.

At the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Southern Punjab resumed their first innings at 270-3 against Central Punjab.

Salman Ali Agha led the way for his side with a brilliant 158 not out off 168 balls (23 fours, one six). Salman added 134 runs for the fourth-wicket with Imran Rafiq, who converted his overnight unbeaten half-century into a 117-run innings, hitting 17 fours and a six.

Skipper Hasan Ali blazed a quickfire 38 not out off 24 balls (five fours, two sixes) as Southern Punjab declared their innings at an imposing 550-8.

Central Punjab openers Imran Dogar (39 not out) and Abid Ali (35 not out) provided their side a confident 70-run start in 20 overs by the close of the day’s play.

At Rawalpindi’s Shoaib Akhtar Stadium, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reached 241-5 against Northern. Middle-order batter Kamran Ghulam top-scored with 81 off 128 balls (10 fours and one six).

Talented youngster Maaz Khan was unbeaten on 70 (178 balls, eight fours, one six).

Opener Israrullah scored 49 runs while Kashif Ali, with 2-47, was the most successful Northern bowler.

Summarised scores:

Sindh 607-4 against Balochistan

SINDH 607-4 in 155 overs (Saud Shakeel 181, Khurram Manzoor 174; Kashif Bhatti 2-138)

Central Punjab trail by 475 runs against Southern Punjab

SOUTHERN PUNJAB 550-8 (decl.) in 126 overs (Salman Ali Agha 158 not out, Zeeshan Ashraf 145, Imran Rafiq 117, Hasan Ali 38; Qasim Akram 3-43, Umaid Asif 2-87); CENTRAL PUNJAB 75-0 in 20 overs (Imran Dogar 39 not out, Abid Ali 35 not out)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lead by 18 runs against Northern

NORTHERN 223 in 72.2 overs (Rohail Nazir 82, Mubasir Khan 31; Ihsanullah 4-41, Niaz Khan 3-59); KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA 241-5 in 82.3 overs (Kamran Ghulam 81, Maaz Khan 70 not out, Israrullah 49; Kashif Ali 2-47)

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2022