KARACHI, Nov 8: In-form Ijaz Ahmad Junior and Aamir Hanif stroked fine half centuries to lift Allied Bank to 285 for seven against Pakistan Customs at stumps on the opening day of the four-day Patron’s Trophy Grade-I fixture at National Stadium Thursday.

Ijaz, who already has four centuries in this tournament, scored 74 while Aamir contributed 73 as the two added 104 for the fourth wicket after Customs had reduced the bankers to 92 for four.

Both the teams are in contention for runners-up slot behind National Bank who wrapped competition for the title in the penultimate round. However, with four more teams in the running for the second place finish, a victory for either ABL or Customs is essential to strengthen claims.

Ijaz slammed 11 boundaries in his 163-ball innings while Aamir clobbered 10 hits to the fence during his little over three hours of batting in which he received 122 deliveries.

Later in the order, Humayun Farhat played a cameo innings of 33 off 34 balls that included three boundaries and a six. Humayun threw caution to the winds after Customs went on defensive after losing the services of paceman Waqas Chughtai.

Customs packed the off-side field (7-2) and fed Allied Bank batsmen outside the off-stump. They succeeded to a large extent by drying the runs but Ijaz and Aamir still managed to show their class by piercing the field with some excellent timing and placement.

Ijaz eventually fell in the trap when he was caught at point off Tariq Haroon who finished with two for 71.

Kashif Siddique, the part-time leg-spinner, bagged the wickets of Aamir and Humayun while Waqar Ahmed snapped up two for 61.