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KARACHI, Jan 21: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) must be sweating at the moment as they battle for the elusive victory that will put them into next week's Patron's Trophy final.
They are left with no alternate course but to defeat Bangladesh 'A' outright with full points on Thursday's final day to deny Wapda qualifying for the final against ZTBL as Pool 'A' winners.
After Tuesday's wash out, KRL spent a restless period on Wednesday as the UBL Sports Complex ground staff worked tirelessly to make the arena playable. But the lack of adequate covers, which are almost worn out, meant a delay of five hours and the match finally commenced, much to KRL's relief, after the scheduled tea interval in bright sunshine.
In what became a 30-over slog, KRL tried their level best to surpass the 198 made by Bangladesh 'A' to secure three first innings points. On a pitch now offering generous assistance to the spinners, KRL bludgeoned their way to 160 for five from Monday's 11 for no wicket.
Saeed Anwar Junior and Mohammad Ramzan put on 96 in 101 balls for the opening partnership, scoring with freedom against the pace bowlers but once the spinners came on, there was gradual decrease in the tempo as far as the runs were concerned.
Saeed Junior, the left-hander, lived a charmed life on his way 76 off 75 deliveries with 10 boundaries. He was bowled off a Manjural Islam no-ball on 10 before being dropped twice off the same bowler.
Ramzan went for 34, slashing off-spinner Jamaluddin to Halim Shah at point. Saeed then fell leg-before-wicket in trying to reverse sweep Fahim Muntasir's third delivery.
Fahim, the Test off-spinner, was chiefly responsible for stopping KRL in their tracks with three further strikes. Saeed bin Nasir was brilliant caught on the long-off boundary by Gazi Alamgir for 21.
Yasir Arafat blasted a six over extra cover but Fahim had his revenge by bowling the all-rounder with the very next ball. Intikhab Alam holed out to Moniruzzaman on the long-on fence in the closing overs. Fahim returned impressive figures of four for 38.
Scoreboard
BANGLADESH 'A' (1st Innings) 198 (Nasiruddin Faruque 64 not out, Moniruzzaman 45, Mazharul Hoque 42; Saeed Ajmal 5-50, Yasir Arafat 4-26).
KRL (1st Innings, overnight from Monday 11-0):
Saeed Anwar Jr lbw b Fahim 76
Mohammad Ramzan c Halim b Fahim 34
Saeed bin Nasir c Gazi b Jamal 21
Ali Naqvi not out 12
Yasir Arafat b Fahim 8
Intikhab Alam c Monir b Fahim 4
Zulfiqar Jan not out 1
EXTRAS (LB-1, NB-3) 4
TOTAL (for five wkts, 33 overs) 160
FALL OF WKTS: 1-96, 2-123, 3-137, 4-146, 5-158.
TO BAT: Azhar Ali, Jaffar Nazir, Faisal Afridi, Saeed Ajmal.
BOWLING (to-date): Manjural Islam 8-0-52-0 (3nb); Gazi Alamgir 5-1-28-0; Jamaluddin Babu 11-1-41-1; Fahim Muntasir 9-0-38-4.
