KARACHI, Nov 30: Unbeaten centuries by opener Behram Khan and wicket-keeper Mohammad Hasan helped Karachi Whites overcome a stuttering start against Lahore Shalimar on the opening day of the ninth and final round Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship Division II match at the NBP Sports Complex here on Wednesday.
After opting to bat first, Karachi Whites found themselves reeling at 86-4. But Behram (105 off 253 balls, 12 boundaries) and Hasan (122) revived the innings by adding 201 for the unbroken fifth wicket partnership in 208 minutes.
Behram’s patient 331 minutes knock allowed Hasan to bat with more freedom. The wicket-keeper/batsman struck 10 fours in his enterprising 170-ball effort.
Hyderabad also prospered through an unfinished partnership of 196 between Rizwan Ahmed and Lal Kumar to reach 251-3 after Multan won the toss and decided to field first at the Dring Stadium in Bahawalpur. The fourth-wicket pair joined hands with their team in trouble at 57-3 with Rizwan batting on 77 and Kumar on 105.
Opener Israrullah hit 98 as hosts Peshawar made 239 against Quetta at the Arbab Niaz Stadium after winning the toss. The visitors were 26-2 at stumps. Peshawar and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) will play the Division II final at the same venue from Dec 8 to 12.
SNGPL, meanwhile, had a good day against United Bank who were dismissed for 127 after losing the toss at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot. SNGPL lost four wickets for 63 runs, all of them to seamer Tahir Mughal, before Khurram Shahzad (84) and Ali Waqas (45) guided them 189-4.
KRL’s bid to retain their first-class status was boosted by their bowlers who bowled out Lahore Ravi for 180 after skipper Zulfiqar Jan chose to bowl first at the LCCA Ground. KRL then closed at 38 without loss in reply.
Close of play scores on Wednesday (day one of four): At NBP Sports Complex, Karachi: KARACHI WHITES 287-4 in 83 overs (Mohammad Hasan 122 not out, Behram Khan 105 not out; Ali Mansoor 2-39, Asif Raza 2-57) v LAHORE SHALIMAR.
At Dring Stadium, Bahawalpur: HYDERABAD 251-3 in 81 overs (Lal Kumar 105 not out, Rizwan Ahmed 77 not out; Mohammad Ahmed 2-20) v MULTAN.
At LCCA Ground, Lahore: LAHORE RAVI 180 in 64.2 overs (Asif Ashfaq 41 not out, Mohammad Irfan 41; Yasir Ali 4-40, Azhar Ali 2-31); KRL 38-0 in 12.2 overs.
At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: UNITED BANK 127 in 34 overs (Asad Ali 3-18, Bilawal Bhatti 3-260; SNGPL 189-4 in 38.1 overs (Khurram Shahzad 84 not out, Ali Waqas 45 not out; Tahir Mughal 4-37).
At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar: PESHAWAR 239 in 60.1 overs (Israrullah 98, Mohammad Rizwan 45, Akbar Badshah 37; Shahzaib Ahmed 4-54, Arun Lal 3-59, Asghar Ali 2-42); QUETTA 26-2 in 16.4 overs (Riaz Afridi 2-9).
