RAWALPINDI: A 158-run third wicket partnership between Mohammad Suleman and Ali Zaryab helped Pakistan Shaheens defeat Sri Lanka ‘A’ by seven wickets on the fourth and final day at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Suleman was dismissed after scoring 86, while Zaryab returned unbeaten on 83 as Pakistan Shaheens achieved the 222-run target in 53 overs.

Earlier, Test fast bowler Khurram Shahzad picked up the last Sri Lanka wicket on the fourth ball of the day without any addition to the overnight score of 364 to finish with impressive figures of 5-70 and match figures of nine wickets for 102 runs.

Suleman and Ali had joined hands after Pakis­tan Shaheens had slipped to 32-2 following the departures of Mohammad Hur­aira (9) and Abdul Faseeh (22). When Suleman dep­arted at the score of 190 after hitting 11 fours in a 129-ball knock with Sha­heens requiring 32 runs for victory, Haider Ali belted two sixes and a four in a rapid 14-ball 19 not out.

Ali returned 83 not out from 125 balls with 11 hits to the fence. The highly-rated batter had scored 55 in Pakistan Shaheen’s 258 in response to Sri Lanka ‘A’ 115.

While Suleman and Zar­yab took the second inn­ings honours, Test fast bowler Khurram Shahzad was in sparkling form thro­ughout the match. In his third competitive match since returning from inj­ury after successful completion of his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Stadium, the fast bowler returned figures of 4-32 and 5-70.

Khurram’s fellow new ball partner, Kashif Ali, also had a good match, recording figures of 5-31 and 2-79.

Scores in brief:

SRI LANKA ‘A’ 115 in 33.1 overs (Sonal Dinusha 30, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 28; Kashif Ali 5-31, Khurram Shahzad 4-32) and 364 in 96.4 overs (Wanuja Sahan 73, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 64; Khurram Shahzad 5-70, Mohammad Suleman 2-21); PAKISTAN SHAHEENS 258 in 82.1 overs (Hussain Talat 56, Rohail Nazir 55, Ali Zaryab 55, Abdul Faseeh 26, Mohammad Suleman 24; Vishwa Fernando 4-44, Isitha Wijesundara 2-49, Nisala Tharaka 2-57) and 222-3 in 53 overs (Mohammad Suleman 86, Ali Zaryab 83 not out, Abdul Faseeh 22, Haider Ali 19 not out)

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2024