KARACHI, Nov 2: Test off-spinner Arshad Khan returned career-best analysis of eight for 80 to spearhead Allied Bank’s fight back against PWD at UBL Sports Complex here Friday.

PWD, who had elected to bat first, on another bare track, were cruising along nicely towards a healthy first innings total when they reached 145 for three in the three-hour first session before the prayers-cum-lunch break.

But after the interval, wickets started to tumble at regular intervals and from 155 for three in 59 overs, PWD crashed to 223 all out.

The last seven wickets realized a mere 68 runs in 28.2 overs as Arshad, leading his side in absence of regular skipper Aqib Javed, used his tall frame to advantage and extracted fair amount of spin on a somewhat slow pitch.

Medium-pacer Tanvir Ahmed, however, caused a few tremors in the Allied Bank ranks when he dismissed Mohammad Nawaz and nightwatchman Ata-ur-Rehman for ducks in his first two overs.

The bankers closed on 25 for two with left-hander Usman Tariq striking two fours in his unbeaten 19.

Opener Bilal Asad top-scored with 41 off 90 deliveries with the aid of two fours before he was second out at 88. The opening stand between Bilal and Imran Khan, who contributed 32 off 78 balls with three boundaries, produced 72 runs after PWD’s stand-in skipper Iqbal Imam won the toss.

Arshad, whose previous best first-class figures were eight for 110, did bulk of the bowling in tandem with veteran slow left-armer Mohammad Zahid Sr, who bowled 31 overs to Arshad’s 35.3 overs.

Iqbal Imam (29), Azam Khan (27) and Afsar Nawaz (26) were the only PWD batsmen to cross the 20-run mark.