KARACHI: Mohammad Waqas, the 24-year-old left-handed batsman, struck a maiden first-class century to power Karachi Blues to 289-4 in their first innings against hosts Multan on the opening day of the fifth-round Faysal Bank Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship tie on Saturday.

Waqas scored exactly 150 to make a mockery of Multan skipper Naved Yasin’s decision to field first after winning the toss at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Fellow left-hander Fakhar Zaman contributed 79 (114 balls, nine fours) in the second-wicket partnership of 151 runs with Waqas who sent the ball to the fence 20 times during his 240-ball knock in 317 minutes.

The only blemish for the visitors was their in-form skipper Khurram Manzoor who was dismissed for just two.

Peshawar condemned Sialkot to a frustrating day at the Arbab Niaz Stadium where the hosts posted 245-7 after being asked to bat first by Sialkot captain Mohammad Ayub Dogar.

Opener Haroon Ahmed shone among the top-order by scoring 52 – his maiden half-century at this level – off 108 balls with the aid of six fours and one six. Wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan, named as one of the standbys for the Test leg of the tour of South Africa, hit nine boundaries in an undefeated 64 from 145 deliveries and dominated the fifth-wicket stand of 76 with skipper Akbar Badshah (32).

Bilawal Bhatti, one of Pakistan’s brightest pace-bowling prospects, claimed three for 79 in his first outing for a while.

Seasoned campaigner Rizwan Ahmed and skipper Aqeel Anjum shared an unbroken century partnership as Hyderabad enjoyed a good day in their backyard of Niaz Stadium as they reached 277-3 to nullify Bahawalpur captain Rehan Rafiq’s option of fielding first after calling correctly at the toss.

Rizwan, fresh from his twin centuries against Karachi Whites in the previous game, was batting on 75 (135 balls, six fours) with the left-handed Aqeel making 58 (120 balls, nine boundaries) in their 122-run stand.

Nauman Ali made an invaluable contribution by scoring a painstaking 56 off 139 balls (seven fours and one six) and put on 87 for the second wicket with opener Azeem Ghumman (37).

The bowlers held sway in two remaining matches. At the Gohati Cricket Stadium in Swabi, leg-spinner Yasir Shah returned career-best analysis of six wickets for 20 runs to help Abbottabad bundle out Faisalabad for a paltry 92 after home captain Yasir Hameed inserted the opposition into bat.

Abbottabad also found the going arduous in their turn at the crease. By stumps they were already in front but had lost eight wickets in making 126. Yasir Hameed was the day’s top-scorer with 49 (89 balls, six fours and one six.

Left-arm seamer Waqas Maqsood bagged his third successive haul of five-for as he captured five for 34 in 14 overs.

At the Mirpur Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Lahore Shalimar lost one wicket in scoring six runs after bowling out Rawalpindi for 157 in their first innings to vindicate the verdict of their skipper Usman Salahuddin who chose to field after winning the toss.

Discarded Test paceman Aizaz Cheema (4-48) and Zia-ul-Haq (3-39) were simply unplayable to start with as Rawalpindi lost the first seven wickets for 63 runs before Haseeb Azam – the older brother of international Hammad Azam – and wicket-keeper Jamal Anwar revived them with a defiant partnership worth 75 runs.

Haseeb made 46 off 73 balls, while Jamal scored a 74-ball 28.

Close of play scores on Saturday (day one of four): Group-I: At Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan: KARACHI BLUES 289-4 in 83 overs (Mohammad Waqas 150, Fakhar Zaman 79, Akbar-ur-Rehman 35; Zulfiqar Babar 2-104) v MULTAN.

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar: PESHAWAR 245-7 in 82.2 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 64 not out, Haroon Ahmed 52, Akbar Badshah 32; Bilawal Bhatti 3-79, Nayyar Abbas 2-51) v SIALKOT.

Group-II: At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad: HYDERABAD 277-3 in 82 overs (Rizwan Ahmed 75 not out, Aqeel Anjum 58 not out, Nauman Ali 56, Azeem Ghumman 37) v BAHAWALPUR.

At Mirpur Cricket Stadium, Mirpur: RAWALPINDI 157 in 55.3 overs (Haseeb Azam 46, Jamal Anwar 28; Aizaz Cheema 4-48, Zia-ul-Haq 3-39, Mohammad Irfan 2-39); LAHORE SHALIMAR 6-1 in 5 overs (Haseeb Azam 1-3).

At Gohati Cricket Ground, Swabi: FAISALABAD 92 in 40.5 overs (Yasir Shah 6-20, Aziz-ur-Rehman 2-8); ABBOTTABAD 126-8 in 40 overs (Yasir Hameed 49; Waqas Maqsood 5-34, Zahoor Khan 2-45).