KARACHI, April 21: Solid batting by Rizwan Ahmed helped Sindh reach 281 for seven in their first innings against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) on the opening day of the Pentangular Cup match at the National Stadium here on Saturday.

Rizwan struck an unbeaten 85 off 159 balls with eight fours and one six after coming to the crease with side at 110 for four after KRL skipper Mohammad Wasim invited the regional team to bat first.

In fact, Sindh were 207 for seven at one point before Rizwan and Tanvir Ahmed (36) came together to put on 74 for the unfinished eighth-wicket partnership.

Earlier, Atif Ali Zaidi made 63. The left-hander slammed 12 boundaries until he was dismissed by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who ended the day with figures of three for 78.

Scoreboard

SINDH (1st Innings):

Agha Sabir c Azhar b Irshad 0

Wajihuddin c Azhar b Irshad 29

Atif Ali Zaidi c Wasim b Saeed Ajmal 63

Fahad Iqbal c Mohtashim b Shahzad 9

Faisal Iqbal c Zulfiqar b Saeed Ajmal 28

Rizwan Ahmed not out 85

Amin-ur-Rehman c Shahzad b Saeed Ajmal 14

Tahir Khan lbw b Shahzad 4

Tanvir Ahmed not out 36

EXTRAS (B-3, LB-2, W-3, NB-7) 15

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 90 overs) 281

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-80, 3-110, 4-110, 5-172, 6-196, 7-207.

TO BAT: Rajesh Ramesh, Uzair-ul-Haq.

BOWLING (to-date): Mohammad Irshad 15-3-38-2 (2nb); Jaffar Nazir 17-3-54-0 (2w); Ali Raza 9-1-49-0 (5nb, 1w); Shahzad Butt 17-6-48-2; Saeed Ajmal 29-6-78-3; Mohammad Wasim 3-1-9-0.

KRL: Azhar Ali, Mohammad Wasim, Saeed bin Nasir, Usman Saeed, Mohtashim Ali, Zulfiqar Jan, Shahzad Butt, Jaffar Nazir, Mohammad Irshad, Ali Raza, Saeed Ajmal.

UMPIRES: Iftikhar Malik and Kaukab Butt.

MATCH REFEREE: Azhar Khan.

OFFICIAL SCORER: Syed Imran Ali.