LAHORE, Jan 14: Half-centuries by skipper Imran Nazir and Atiq-ur-Rehman and fine bowling by Sarfraz Ahmed put Sialkot on threshold of victory against Faisalabad in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Gold fixture at Jinnah Stadium on Sunday.

Imran, who hit 72 in the first innings, scored 68 while Atiq was batting at 53 as Sialkot, set to score 224 to win, were 144-1 by close of play.

Imran faced 66 balls, cracking 10 fours and one six while Atiq had negotiated 100 balls to strike nine fours and one six. The two of them gave Sialkot a fine opening stand of 130.

Sialkot now need just 80 with nine wickets still intact.

Earlier, Sarfraz captured four for 49 as Faisalabad were bowled out for 195 in the second innings after resuming at 58 for four on the third morning. Opener Imran Ali struck 13 fours in making a 172-ball 83.

Scoreboard

FAISALABAD (1st Innings) 250 (Naved Latif 126; Kashif Raza 5-58).

SIALKOT (1st Innings) 222 (Imran Nazir 72, Ijaz Ahmed 52).

FAISALABAD (2nd Innings, overnight 58-4):

Imran Ali c Asim b Sarfraz 83

Asif Hussain c Shahid b Sarfraz 0

Usman Arshad c Imran b Kashif 0

Mohammad Zahid c Shahzad b Sarfraz 0

Mohammad Salman b Asim 13

Misbah-ul-Haq c Khalid b Asim 25

Naved Latif b Asim 7

Ahmed Hayat c Sarfraz b Kashif 21

Ali Raza b Sarfraz 0

Saeed Ajmal run out 21

Asad Ali not out 11

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-5, W-1, NB-1, PR-5) 14

TOTAL (all out, 71.2 overs) 195

FALL OF WKTS: 1-1,2-6, 3-7, 4-54,5-109,6-117, 7-146, 8-146, 9-165.

BOWLING: Sarfraz Ahmed 21.2-4-49-4; Kashif Raza 21-7-55-2 (1w); Tahir Mughal 12-1-35-0; Asim Butt 17-4-44-3 (1nb); Abdur Rehman 12-1-35-0.

SIALKOT (2nd Innings):

Imran Nazir lbw b Asad 68

Atiq-ur-Rehman not out 53

Shahid Yousuf not out 11

EXTRAS (B-8, LB-2, NB-2) 12

TOTAL (for one wkt, 30 overs) 144

FALL OF WKT: 1-130.

BOWLING (to-date): Ahmed Hayat 5-1-30-0; Asad Ali 11-1-56-1 (1nb); Saeed Ajmal 11-1-28-0; Ali Raza 3-0-20-0 (1nb).