KARACHI: Lahore Whites’ Ali Zaryab and Multan’s Zain Abbas struck their maiden double centuries on the first day of the fourth round matches of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on Thur­sday. Rawal­pindi pacer Moha­mmad Faizan bagged a five-wicket haul against Faisalabad on his first-class debut.

After being put into bat at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Faisalabad batters found themselves clueless against what was fiery spell from Rawalpindi left-armer Faizan, who registered figures of 5-35 and and helped his side bowl Faisalabad out for 112 in 39.3 overs.

Ali Waqas was the only notable batter for Faisalabad, scoring 26.

In reply, Rawalpindi were 77-4 in 32.3 overs when stumps were drawn. Opening batter Zeeshan Malik top-scored for his side, returning undefeated on 60 off 96 balls, hitting nine fours.

For Faisalabad, Test fast bowler Faheem Ashraf bagged two wickets for seven runs in seven overs.

At the KRL Stadium in the same city, Multan completely dominated the first day’s proceedings against Fata, thanks to an unbeaten double century by Zain. The left-handed opening batter scored 219 off 268 balls, smashing 30 fours and one six. He knitted an unbroken 312-run partnership for the third wicket with Mohammad Basit, who remained not out on 142 off 166 balls, laced with 23 fours and two sixes.

At stumps, Multan were 405-2 in 86.1 overs.

At the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, a 153-run first-wicket partnership between Zaryab and Ahmed Shehzad helped Lahore Whites post 345-3 in 87 overs against Karachi Whites.

After being asked to bat first, left-handed batter Zaryab scored an unbeaten 204 off 289 balls, studded with 25 fours and one six. Ahmed scored 65, which included nine boundaries, before he was bowled by Pak—istan Test mainstay Noman Ali.

Noman took two wickets for 104 runs in 30 overs.

Lahore Blues captain Imran Butt’s decision to bat first at the Abbotabad Cricket Stadium backfired as the side lost four wickets for 58 runs. Before Hussain Talat and Junaid Ali added 138 runs for the fifth wicket. Hussain top-scored for his side with a 167-ball 87, which included 12 fours.

Junaid scored 82 off 101 balls, hitting 14 fours and one six. Kashif Bhatti, coming to bat at number eight, scored 69 off 91 balls, smashing five fours and four sixes before Lahore Blues were dismissed for 334 in 85.1 overs.

For Peshawar, Mohammad Ilyas and Niaz Khan bagged three wickets apiece. Sajid Khan grab­bed two wickets for 91 runs in his 29 overs.

Scores in brief:

Rawalpindi trail by 35 runs against Faisalabad

FAISALABAD 112 in 39.3 overs (Ali Waqas 26; Mohammad Faizan 5-35, Mohammad Awais 3-29); Rawalpindi 77-4 in 32.3 overs (Zeeshan Malik 60 not out; Faheem Ashraf 2-7)

Fata win toss and elect to bowl against Multan

MULTAN 405-2 in 86.1 overs (Zain Abbas 219 not out, Mohammad Basit 142 not out)

Karachi Whites win toss and elect to bowl against Lahore Whites

LAHORE WHITES 345-3 in 87 overs (Ali Zaryab 204 not out, Ahmed Shehzad 65; Noman Ali 2-104)

Lahore Blues win toss and elect to bat against Peshawar

LAHORE BLUES 334 in 85.1 overs (Hussain Talat 87, Junaid Ali 82, Kashif Bhatti 69; Niaz Khan 3-73, Mohammad Ilyas 3-81, Sajid Khan 2-91).

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2023