KARACHI, Jan 13: Hyderabad, inspired by an undefeated half century from veteran Rizwan Ahmed, posted 255-6 in their first innings against Karachi Whites on the opening day of the fourth-round Faysal Bank Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship fixture at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Rizwan held the hosts’ innings together with a watchful k162-ball nock of 80, while striking four boundaries and three sixes after skipper Aqeel Anjum decided to bat first upon winning the toss. Opener Sharjeel Khan dominated early play with bright 64 off 86 deliveries. The left-hander struck six fours and a brace of sixes.

In-form Atif Maqbool continued his wicket-taking spree with another haul of four as he conceded 91 runs from 35 overs.

Islamabad were off to faltering start at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore as they folded up for 193 in their first innings after being asked to bat first by Sialkot captain Mansoor Amjad. All-rounder Imad Wasim hit up a fighting 70 not out with the aid of nine fours.

Nayyar Abbas, the all-rounder, bagged four for 27 in 17.3 overs with his slow left-armers. Sialkot were 10-1 in reply.

Rawalpindi reached 2-0 after dismissing Faisalabad for 226 at the Mirpur Cricket Stadium. Faisalabad captain Mohammad Salman finished unbeaten on 70, while opener Moazzam Hayat (52) and Zeeshan Butt (45) also made useful contributions after Pindi skipper Babar Naeem opted to field first.

Left-arm paceman Sadaf Hussain took 4-63 in 22 overs.

Shoaib Maqsood hammered 107 as Multan rallied to get 268-6 in their first innings against Lahore Ravi at the LCCA Ground in Lahore. The visitors, who lost the toss, found themselves in tatters at 20-3 before Sohaib (142 balls, 17 boundaries) and Multan skipper Naved Yasin (80 off 145 balls, 12 fours) led a superb fightback by adding 176 for the fourth wicket.

Close of play scores on Sunday (day one of four):

Group-I: At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore: ISLAMABAD 193 in 71.3 overs (Imad Wasim 70 not out, Fahad Iqbal 28; Nayyar Abbas 4-27, Prince Abbas 2-27, Umaid Asif 2-42); SIALKOT 10-1 in 6 overs. At LCCA Ground, Lahore: MULTAN 268-8 in 80 overs (Sohaib Maqsood 107, Naved Yasin 80, Zulfiqar Babar 27; Adnan Rasool 4-81, Asif Ashfaq 2-34) v LAHORE RAVI. Group-II: At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad: HYDERABAD 255-6 in 86 overs (Rizwan Ahmed 80 not out, Sharjeel Khan 64, Nauman Ali 31, Shoaib Leghari 26 not out; Atif Maqbool 4-91) v KARACHI WHITES. At Mirpur Cricket Stadium, Mirpur (Azad Jammu Kashmir): FAISALABAD 226 in 72.1 overs (Mohammad Salman 70 not out, Moazzam Hayat 52, Zeeshan Asif 45; Sadaf Hussain 4-63, Haseeb Azam 3-70, Nasir Malik 2-59); RAWALPINDI 2-0 in 1.1 overs.—Sports Reporter