QEA 2011-12

KARACHI: Reigning champions Habib Bank benefited from a cracking opening partnership between Ahmed Shahzad and Shan Masood to plunder 329-4 against Karachi Blues on the opening day of the fifth-round Faysal Bank Quaid-e-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship fixture at the National Stadium here on Sunday.

Pakistan discarded limited-overs batsman Ahmed blasted his way to 108 off 146 deliveries, while the left-handed Shan made 90 to make a mockery of Karachi Blues skipper Mohammad Sami’s decision to field first after winning the toss.

Scoring freely, the openers shared a partnership of 195 before Shan was caught by Sami off spinner Atif Maqbool after striking 12 fours in his 167-ball knock. The off-spinner then bowled Ahmed who struck 16 boundaries.Bilal Shafayat (54) and Khaqan Arsal (48 not out) maintained Habib Bank’s dominance by adding 96 for the third wicket before Atif dismissed Bilal. Atif bagged another wicket in the last over of the day when held a return catch to get rid of Habib Bank captain Hasan Raza (13).

Atif bagged all four wickets to fall but gave away 142 runs in 31.2 overs.

National Bank recovered from 128-5 to post 345 without further loss against Sialkot with skipper Kamran Akmal and Qaiser Abbas both hitting unbeaten centuries in the 217-run partnership at the Jinnah Stadium.

Kamran slammed 131 — the discarded Pakistan wicket-keeper’s 16th hundred in first-class cricket — off 165 balls with 19 fours, while the left-hander Qaiser’s second successive century in the championship (107 off 146 balls) contained 16 fours.

Medium-pacer Ali Imran Pasha registered his career-best figures when he claimed 6-48 to help PIA bowl out Abbottabad for 175 at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. PIA were 106-3 in reply.

Wapda found themselves in bother at 68-4 after dismissing Rawalpindi for 159 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Former Pakistan opener Imran Nazir led from the front to put Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) on top against Islamabad at the Diamond Club Ground. Imran hit an undefeated 105 with 15 boundaries as ZTBL reached 212-3 in reply to Islamabad’s paltry total of 123. Medium-pacer Junaid Nadir bagged 5-14.

State Bank reached 224-3 against Faisalabad at the Sports Stadium in Sargodha.

Close of play scores on Sunday (day one of four): At National Stadium, Karachi: HABIB BANK 329-4 in 82.3 overs (Ahmed Shahzad 108, Shan Masood 90, Bilal Shafayat 54, Khaqan Arsal 48 not out; Atif Maqbool 4-142) v KARACHI BLUES.

At Sports Stadium, Sargodha: STATE BANK 224-3 in 83 overs (Mohtashim Ali 63, Adnan Raees 56 not out, Rameez Alam 33 not out) v FAISALABAD.

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: NATIONAL BANK 345-5 in 80.1 overs (Kamran Akmal 131 not out, Qaiser Abbas 107 not out, Fawad Alam 43; Mohammad Abbas 3-107) v SIALKOT.

At Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium: RAWALPINDI 159 in 51.1 overs (Haseeb Azam 35 not out; Sarfraz Ahmed 4-30, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 4-66); WAPDA 68-4 in 28 overs (Mohammad Ayaz 3-22).

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: ISLAMABAD 123 in 30.1 overs (Zeeshan Mushtaq 35; Junaid Nadir 5-14); ZTBL 212-3 in 39.1 overs (Imran Nazir 105 not out, Faisal Athar 46 not out, Yasir Hameed 33).

At Abbottabad Cricket Stadium: ABBOTTABAD 175 in 31.1 overs (Mir Azam 67; Ali Imran Pasha 6-48); PIA 106-3 in 43 overs (Kamran Sajid 51 not out).