KARACHI, Feb 28: Bowlers were on rampage on a sensational Thursday as many as 18 wickets crashed on the opening day of the four-day Pentangular Cup fixture between Sindh and Balochistan here at the National Stadium.

On a win-the-toss-and-field-first green-top, Sindh skittled out Balochistan for 187 inside 53 overs. However, the hosts also ran into immediate trouble when the first seven wickets tumbled for mere 67 runs.

It took the unlikely figure of Danish Kaneria to provide partial stability to the somewhat red-faced Sindh change room in the unaccustomed role of a batsman that eventually guided the home side to a respectable-looking 131 for eight.

The Test leg-spinner, considered a real bunny with the willow, partnered his Pakistan team-mate Faisal Iqbal to dig his side out of the mire with a precious 24, while adding 59 for the eighth-wicket stand in 69 minutes.

Until that moment, it was a painful ritual for Sindh with none of the first seven batsmen dismissed managing to enter double figures. Khurram Manzoor (5), Khalid Latif (2), Naumanullah (9), Fawad Alam (6), skipper Shahid Afridi (5), Sarfraz Ahmed (6) and Anwar Ali Khan (9) all narrated a depressing story on pitch that demanded application and concentration.

The only man, apart from Kaneria of course, to come to terms with the situation was Faisal Iqbal. He overcame a tricky initiation to bat through 13 minutes shy of three hours to strike five boundaries in reaching 46 off 96 balls by stumps.

Tanvir Ahmed, a Karachi paceman who is one of the seven guest players in the current Balochistan playing XI, did the early damage with three wickets in a seven-over burst. Fellow pacer Faisal Irfan chipped in with the vital scalps of Nauman, Afridi and Kaneria.

Earlier in the day, Balochistan took advantage of the ill-directed bowling to reach 87 for three at lunch with the bulk of runs provided by the left-handed opener Shoaib Khan Jr (40 off 51 balls, seven fours).

Saeed bin Nasir, another Karachi player, contributed to Balochistan’s cause along with Multan region’s Bilal Khilji as the pair added 68 in 76 minutes for the fourth-wicket. They were particularly severe on Kaneria, whose opening four overs cost 33, with Saeed striking the day’s solitary six.

Afridi, who had earlier sent back Saeed Anwar Jr with his seamers, broke the partnership by clean bowling Bilal for 29. Saeed (45 off 89 balls, eight fours and that six) was one of three wickets for ex-Under-19 World Cup winner Anwar Ali Khan in a hostile second spell.

Anwar finished with four for 41 in 18 overs while Afridi and Kaneria claimed two each with Sohail Khan and Fahad Khan taking one piece.

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