KARACHI, March 12: A splendid century partnership between Rizwan Ahmed and Faisal Iqbal guided Sindh to a strong position on the second day of the crucial Pentangular Cup fixture against fellow title-contenders Punjab at the National Stadium here on Wednesday.

Rizwan (79 off 161 balls, 10 four and one six) and Faisal (65 off 123 balls, seven fours) not only rescued Sindh from a tight situation, but their stand of 138 enabled the hosts to take a first-innings lead for the first time in the tournament.

If Sindh manage to win this match, they will clinch the title along with Rs1 million as prize money.

Sindh were already in front by 119 runs after reaching stumps at 303 for six in response to Punjab’s modest total of 184 all out.

After Sindh captain Shahid Afridi had taken Punjab’s final wicket this morning after the visitors resumed at 173-9, the home team launched their reply on a promising note with Khurram Manzoor and Khalid Latif putting on 47.

But Punjab hit back with two strikes as left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz had Khalid caught at first slip by Salman Butt for 25 and Naumanullah held by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal for just six.

Khurram and Rizwan, who was promoted in the order, carried the score to 86 before the former was brilliantly caught at second slip by a diving Mohammad Hafeez for 36.

At that stage the match was evenly poised. But Rizwan and a confident-looking Faisal tilted the balance in Sindh’s favour by denying Punjab the much-needed breakthrough for 184 minutes while surviving some close calls.

Hafeez reprieved Rizwan on 18, but it had to be said the chance offered was extremely difficult as the batsman slashed Junaid Zia into the slips. Thereafter, Rizwan regained his composure and together with Faisal played some delightful strokes.

Of the duo, Faisal looked in deft touch as he struck handsome shots, including a mere push to the mid-off boundary. Rizwan, on the other hand, took risks to release the pressure. He once hoisted Junaid over extra-cover for the solitary six of the match.

Inevitably it was Wahab, arguably the best bowler on view, who finally broke through when Rizwan was taken at midwicket by Punjab skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, after holding the fort for 233 minutes.

Faisal also departed, having occupied the crease for 191 minutes, caught behind off Wahab.

Afridi (14) came and went quickly, caught at mid-off off a leading edge as he attempted to hit Hafeez on the on-side. However, Fawad Alam (29) and Sarfraz Ahmed (25) comfortably saw off the second new ball while putting an invaluable 55 for the unbroken seventh-wicket stand.

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