KARACHI, Oct 28: Sindh had to be satisfied with three points after a meaningless final-day declaration by Federal Areas skipper Rao Iftikhar ensured a dull end to the Pentangular Cup match at the National Stadium on Tuesday.

Unwilling to take chances despite the fact that Sindh had obtained the first-innings lead on Monday, Federal Areas left the home team with an unreachable run-chase after belatedly declaring their second innings at 411 for three, 26 minutes after lunch on the fourth day.

It came as no surprise when Sindh opted for batting practice rather than unwisely throwing their bats around to chase a daunting 367 in a minimum of 52 overs.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of scoring easy runs, opener Khalid Latif got an early birthday present (he turns 23 on Nov 4) as he hammered an unbeaten 123 off 143 deliveries — his seventh ton in first-class cricket — before the match was called off with Sindh making 247 for four in their second innings.

Khalid struck 14 fours and brace of sixes during his 194-minute innings and added 106 in just 51 minutes with Sindh skipper Shahid Afridi. The swashbuckling Afridi bludgeoned six fours and two sixes in making 59 off only 36 balls. The fourth-wicket pair gleefully cashed in to plunder part-time spinners Raheel Majeed and Naveed Qureshi who between them conceded 104 in 13 overs.

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, however, redeemed himself with a decent seven-over burst at the start of the innings and removed Rizwan Ahmed with a delivery that moved in sharply to hit the off-stump.

Earlier, Federal Areas added 136 to their Monday’s tally of 275 for one with the overnight pair of Umar Amin and Bazid Khan extending their stand to 185 in 193 minutes before both fell in quick successions.

Umar departed for 115 (192 balls, 14 fours) while Bazid was dismissed ninth short of the three-figure mark. His 91 off 159 balls contained 13 boundaries.

Umair Khan, the opener who retired hurt on Monday, resumed to finish on 64 (112 balls, nine fours and one six) and Naveed Qureshi finished on 54 not out (83 balls, seven fours).

In the second round of matches Sindh next play Balochistan here from Friday, while Federal Areas host Punjab at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad.

Scoreboard

FEDERAL AREAS (1st Innings) 322 (Usman Saeed 136 not out, Umar Amin 48, Sohail Tanvir 45; Tanvir Ahmed 5-62).

SINDH (1st Innings) 367 (Khurram Manzoor 59, Rizwan Ahmed 44, Tanvir Ahmed 41; Sohail Tanvir 5-100).

FEDERAL AREAS (2nd Innings, overnight 275-1):

Raheel Majeed c Sarfraz b Anwar 66

Umair Khan not out 64

Umar Amin c Sarfraz b Tanvir 115

Bazid Khan c Sarfraz b Sohail 91

Naveed Qureshi not out 54

EXTRAS (LB-12, W-1, NB-8) 21

TOTAL (for three decl, 106 overs) 411

FALL OF WKTS: 1-118, 2-303, 3-323.

BOWLING: Anwar Ali 25-8-68-1 (1w); Sohail Khan 17-1-71-1 (1nb); Tanvir Ahmed 23-1-104-1 (4nb); Shahid Afridi 26-1-96-0 (2nb); Fawad Alam 9-0-34-0; Rizwan Ahmed 5-0-23-0 (1nb); Naumanullah 1-0-3-0.

SINDH (2nd Innings):

Khurram Manzoor c Bazid b Sohail 13

Khalid Latif not out 123

Rizwan Ahmed b Shoaib 3

Faisal Iqbal c sub (Afaq Raheem) b Yasir 19

Shahid Afridi c Bazid b Raheel 59

Fawad Alam not out 15

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-3, W-3, NB-5) 15

TOTAL (for four wkts, 45 overs) 247

FALL OF WKTS: 1-41, 2-44, 3-107, 4-223.

BOWLING: Shoaib Akhtar 9-1-51-1; Sohail Tanvir 8-1-23-1 (2w); Rao Iftikhar 7-1-24-0; Yasir Arafat 8-1-38-1 (5nb); Naveed Qureshi 7-0-55-0; Raheel Majeed 6-0-49-1.

RESULT: Match drawn.

UMPIRES: Nadeem Ghauri and Zameer Haider.

MATCH REFEREE: Anwer Khan.