LAHORE: Peshawar recorded a hard-fought 17-run win over Fata while the remaining three fixtures of the second round of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy ended in draws on Wednesday. The next round of matches will commence on Saturday across five venues in Abbottabad, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar.
At the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Mohammad Haris-led Peshawar successfully defended a 256-run target, bowling out Fata for 238 in 68.5 overs. Paceman Mohammad Amir Khan starred with figures of 5-72, claiming his fourth first-class five-wicket haul.
Resuming the day at 51-2, Fata required another 205 runs but lost wickets at regular intervals to slump to 152-8. A late resistance came through Zahid Mehmood (42 off 51 balls) and Mohammad Sarwar Afridi (40 off 57), who added 65 for the ninth wicket, but their effort went in vain. The last-wicket pair contributed 21 runs before Peshawar sealed the victory.
Salman Khan Jr top-scored with a fluent 73 off 127 balls laced with 10 boundaries. Apart from Amir’s heroics, Iftikhar Ahmed (2-30) and Sufyan Moqim (2-32) also chipped in for Peshawar.
At the Imran Khan Stadium, Peshawar, Faisalabad managed to hold on for a draw against Sialkot. Starting the day at 38-2 and trailing by 123 runs, Faisalabad rode on a fine 143 off 179 balls from Atiq-ur-Rehman, who struck 18 fours and a six.
He was supported by Mohammad Awais Zafar (59 off 62), Mohammad Irfan Khan (39 off 69) and Ali Shan (32 not out off 88) as Faisalabad reached 185 runs ahead with four wickets in hand before the match was called off.
At the Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad, Abbottabad salvaged a draw against Lahore Whites after following on 135 runs behind. From an overnight 35-3, Abbottabad posted 377 all out in 78.3 overs, thanks to a defiant century from Ahmed Khan (104 off 148).
Ahmed combined with Khalid Usman (71 off 72) for a 146-run seventh-wicket stand after Abbottabad had slipped to 176-6. Skipper Fakhar Zaman also contributed a brisk 81 off 99 balls with 10 fours and three sixes.
For Lahore Whites, Mohammad Rameez Jnr took four wickets to complete his third 10-wicket match haul in first-class cricket. Set 243 to win in 18 overs, Whites managed only three overs before both captains agreed to end the game.
Meanwhile, at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, Islamabad’s fixture against Bahawalpur also ended in a stalemate.
After Bahawalpur were bowled out for 508 — replying to Islamabad’s 541 — the hosts reached 221-3 in 60 overs in their second innings when stumps were drawn.
Opener Shamyl Hussain struck 123 not out off 175 balls with 12 fours and two sixes. Earlier, Bahawalpur had resumed their innings on 463-6 and added 45 runs before being dismissed in 139.4 overs.
Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2025
