LAHORE, Feb 9: Multan’s hopes of forcing victory against Islamabad were held up by bad weather on third day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Silver League final at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

Replying to Multan’s massive 514 for nine, Islamabad made significant recovery to reach 212 for five after resuming at their overnight score of 21 for no wicket. At one stage, Islamabad, who still require 103 to avoid the follow-on, were in danger of being dismissed cheaply when they lost four for 63, three of them to the hostile paceman Abdur Rauf.

Rauf was also responsible for causing injury to Fayyaz Ahmed, who retired hurt after being struck on the helmet by a vicious bouncer. The impact caused bruising near right eye.

Islamabad were glad that play ended early with 34 overs still remaining in the day when rain started to fall in the evening session.

Taking advantage of windy conditions, Rauf, tall right-arm paceman, sent back opener Afaq Raheem (14) and Atif Ashraf (33), both caught at the wicket by debutant Gulraiz Sadaf.

Fellow medium-pacer Azharullah took the vital scalp of Islamabad skipper Bilal Asad, who was caught in the covers by Azhar Shafiq for nine.

Shortly afterwards Tahir Maqsood had Bazid Khan caught by Gulraiz for one to leave Islamabad reeling at 63 for four. However, Raheel Majeed, who made 47, then added 62 with Fayyaz before he was bowled by Rauf

Rauf Akbar (53) and Immad Wasim (19) were at the crease when play was stopped.

Scoreboard

MULTAN (1st Innings) 514-9 declared (Bilal Khilji 137, Kashif Naved 72, Abdur Rauf 57, Usman Tariq 56, Kamran Hussain 50).

ISLAMABAD (1st Innings, overnight 21-0):

Afaq Raheem c Gulraiz b Rauf 14

Atif Ashraf c Gulraiz b Rauf 33

Raheel Majeed b Rauf 47

Bilal Asad c Azhar Shafiq b Azharullah 9

Bazid Khan c Gulraiz b Tahir 1

Fayyaz Ahmed retired hurt 26

Rauf Akbar not out 53

Immad Wasim not out 19

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-5, NB-4) 10

TOTAL (for five wkts, 60 overs) 212

FALL OF WKTS: 1-39, 2-51, 3-62, 4-63, 5-125.

TO BAT: Naeem Anjum, Saad Altaf, Zohaib Ahmed.

BOWLING (to-date): Abdur Rauf 19-6-61-3 (4nb); Tahir Maqsood 11-4-41-1; Azharullah 15-1-51-1; Kamran Hussain 12-4-41-0; Saeed Anwar Jr 3-1-12-0.