Sami fires Faisalabad to victory

Published April 9, 2006

LAHORE, April 8: Fine bowling by paceman Samiullah Niazi enabled Faisalabad cruise to a convincing 130-run victory over Sialkot in the Pentangular Cup cricket tournament on Saturday. Sami, the left-armer who has been included in Pakistan ‘A’ squad for Euro-Asia Trophy in Abu Dhabi, grabbed four for 73 as the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Gold League champions were all out for 258 in the second innings while chasing 389.

Faisalabad's second win in succession also avenged their defeat in the Gold League final.

Hafiz Majid and Shahzad Malik were the only batsmen to make significant contributions.

Majid, who was batting on 14 at the start of the final day, scored a 108-ball 80 with 14 fours.

Shahzad remained unconquered with a determined 83 off 86 deliveries. His excellent knock included 12 fours.

Part-time off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez provided good support to Sami by picking up three wickets for 16 runs in 5.4 overs.

In their first game last week, Sialkot lost by 41 runs against Patron’s Trophy champions National Bank.

Scoreboard

FAISALABAD (1st Innings) 408 (Mohammad Hafeez 113, Misbahul Haq 93; Asim Butt 6-85).

SIALKOT (1st Innings) 271 (Tahir Mughal 51; Shahid Nazir 4-90).

FAISALABAD (2nd Innings) 251-8 declared (Mohammad Hafeez 60).

SIALKOT (2nd Innings, overnight 25-1):

Inamul Haq c Imran b Sami 1

Hafiz Majid lbw b Shahid Nazir 80

Mohammad Ayub c Salman b Sami 14

Atiqur Rahman c Misbah b Asad 8

Shahzad Malik not out 83

Tahir Mughal b Hafeez 0

Abdur Rahman c Salman b Shahid Nazir 0

Hafiz Khalid c Salman b Sami 17

Kashif Dawood lbw b Sami 11

Asim Butt c Misbah b Hafeez 16

Sarfraz Ahmed b Hafeez 9

EXTRAS (B-9, LB-2, NB-8) 19

TOTAL (all out, 60.4 overs) 258

FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-31, 3-70, 4-136, 5-138, 6-151, 7-177, 8-213, 9-244.

BOWLING: Shahid Nazir 15-1-63-2 (5nb); Samiullah Niazi 22-2-73-4 (2nb); Mohammad Hafeez 5.4-1-16-3; Asad Ali 13-1-70-1 (1nb); Ahmed Hayat 5-1-25-0.

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