KARACHI, Nov 6: Usman Saeed’s fine knock helped Federal Areas stage a partial recovery after NWFP bowlers, led by Shakeel-ur-Rehman, made early inroads on the first day of the third-round Pentangular Cup match at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar on Thursday.

Usman, a promising right-hand batsman, scored 73 in just over three hours after Federal Areas were struggling at 68 for four after NWFP skipper Yasir Hameed invited the visitors to bat first.

Thanks to Usman’s fighting knock Federal Areas reached 228 for eight when play ended with seven overs still remaining in the day’s quota of 83.

Paceman Shakeel was the wrecker-in-chief for the NWFP with excellent figures of five for 62 in 24 overs. Upcoming left-arm pacer Junaid Khan grabbed two for 68 while the other wicket was taken by opening bowler Nauman Habib.Shakeel, coming first change, dismissed Umair Khan and the talented Umar Amin in his very first over. The in-form Umar lasted just two deliveries. Opener Afaq Raheem made 20 before he was leg-before-wicket in Shakeel’s third over.

Fayyaz Ahmed (37 off 50 balls, five fours) and Usman (136 balls, seven boundaries) added 40 for the fifth wicket. But the highest partnership of the day yielded 54 when Imad Wasim joined Usman at the fall of the seventh wicket.

After Usman went, all-rounder Imad (34 off 95 balls) found support from Mohammad Aamir (13) as the pair survived until stumps.

Scoreboard

FEDERAL AREAS (1st Innings):

Afaq Raheem lbw b Shakeel 20

Umair Khan c Zulfiqar b Shakeel 1

Umar Amin c Adnan b Shakeel 0

Fayyaz Ahmed c Zulfiqar b Junaid 37

Naveed Qureshi c Shoaib b Junaid 19

Usman Saeed b Shakeel 73

Yasir Arafat c Zulfiqar b Shakeel 5

Jamal Anwar c Aftab b Nauman 8

Imad Wasim not out 34

Mohammad Aamir not out 13

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-9, W-2, NB-3) 18

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 74 overs) 228

FALL OF WKTS: 1-21, 2-22, 3-38, 4-68, 5-108, 6-127, 7-148, 8-202.

TO BAT: Shahzad Rana.

BOWLING (to-date): Nauman Habib 18-5-51-1; Junaid Khan 18-2-68-2; Shakeel-ur-Rehman 24-5-62-5 (3nb, 2w); Yasir Shah 12-3-26-0; Aftab Khan 2-0-8-0.

NWFP: Yasir Hameed, Riffatullah Mohmand, Wajid Ali, Adnan Raees, Aftab Khan, Shoaib Khan, Zulfiqar Jan, Yasir Shah, Junaid Khan, Nauman Habib, Shakeel-ur-Rehman.

UMPIRES: Salim Badar and Rasheed Bhatti.

MATCH REFEREE: Khalid Niazi.