KARACHI, Jan 26: All-rounder Akbar-ur-Rehman struck an undefeated century to give Group-I leaders Karachi Blues first innings lead against Lahore Ravi on the second day of their four-day Faysal Bank Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship fixture in Lahore on Saturday.

Akbar, the 29-year-old right-hander, made 116 off 174 balls as Karachi Blues posted 298-4 in reply to the Ravians’ 261 at the Gaddafi Stadium. Akbar’s third hundred in first-class cricket includes 14 boundaries and one six.

Fakhar Zaman, the left-handed opener, continued his dream start to his first-class career by striking his third successive 70-plus score. He made 70 off 142 deliveries with the aid of 11 fours.

On Friday’s opening day, Lahore Ravi skipper Imran Farhat, who chose bat first, hit his 27th hundred. The discarded Test left-handed opener scored 127 off 164 balls with 16 fours and one six.

Quetta failed to take advantage of a fine opening partnership of 122 between Bismillah Khan (63) and Mohibullah (73) as they struggled to 201-7 in response to Sialkot’s 232 at the Zahoor Elahi Stadium in Gujrat.

On day one, Sialkot skipper Shoaib Malik top-scored with 77 (154 balls, 15 boundaries) in his first appearance in the ongoing championship, while sharing a fourth-wicket partnership of 134 with Faisal Khan (69).

Pakistan Under-19 batsman Umar Waheed, who missed out scoring a maiden first-class ton by a solitary 10 days, finally reached the coveted landmark by amassing 183 (322 balls, 21 fours) as Rawalpindi declared at 498-8 against Abbottabad at the Gohati Cricket Ground in Swabi.

The hosts lost both openers in closing at 21-2 in their reply.

Hyderabad earned a lead of 67 after dismissing Faisalabad for 187 at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Naved Latif, the former Test batsman who turns 37 next month, scored 61. The visitors, who made 254 after being asked to bat first on Friday, reached 27-0 in their second innings to hold an overall lead of 94.

Bahawalpur has Karachi Whites in bother at 178-5 after posting 362 at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan. Ex-international Kamran Hussain slammed 139 off 231 balls with the aid of 14 fours and three sixes.

It was an eventful first day at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar where 16 wickets fell. Peshawar, batting first, were sent packing in 34.3 overs fir just 103 with ex-Test paceman Rao Iftikhar claiming five for 28. Islamabad then stuttered to 120-6 by close of play.

Close of play scores on Saturday (day two of four): Group-I: At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; LAHORE RAVI 261 in 81.4 overs (Imran Farhat 127, Ali Manzoor 40; Anwar Ali 3-44, Azam Hussain 3-58, Tabish Khan 2-60); KARACHI BLUES 298-4 in 83 overs (Akbar-ur-Rehman 116 not out, Fakhar Zaman 70, Tariq Haroon 46 not out, Rameez Aziz 36; Adnan Rasool 3-86).

At Zahoor Elahi Stadium, Gujrat: SIALKOT 232 in 86.3 overs (Shoaib Malik 77, Faisal Khan 69; Najaf Shah 5-62, Arun Lal 2-52, Jalat Khan 2-60); QUETTA 201-7 in 77 overs (Mohibullah 73, Bismillah Khan 63; Nayyar Abbas 4-57).

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar (day one): PESHAWAR 103 in 34.3 overs (Nawaz Ahmed 53; Rao Iftikhar 5-28, Shehzad Azam Rana 2-23); ISLAMABAD 120-6 in 45 overs (Fahad Iqbal 44, Imad Wasim 25 not out, Shan Masood 25; Afaq Ahmed 3-12, Umar Farooq 2-55).

Group-II: At Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan; BAHAWALPUR 362 in 109.1 overs (Kamran Hussain 139, Rehan Rafiq 74, Usman Tariq 60; Atif Maqbool 5-113, Mohammad Sami 3-64); KARACHI WHITES 178-5 in 55 overs (Owais Ahmed Rehmani 64 not out, Fawad Alam 47, Asif Zakir 28; Kamran Hussain 2-34).

At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad: HYDERABAD 254 in 75.5 overs (Lal Kumar 64, Sharjeel Khan 63, Aqeel Anjum 40, Rizwan Ahmed 30; Asad Ali 5-54, Zeeshanullah 3-53) and 27-0 in 5 overs; FAISALABAD 187 in 80.2 overs (Naved Latif 61, Ali Waqas 36, Zeeshan Butt 36; Rehan Riaz 3-26, Mir Ali Talpur 2-14, Zahid Mahmood 2-48, Nasir Awais 2-52).

At Gohati Cricket Ground, Swabi: RAWALPINDI 498-9 declared (Umar Waheed 183, Hammad Azam 72, Awais Zia 66, Adnan Mufti 59, Zahid Mansoor 34; Ahmed Jamal 3-87, Khalid Usman 2-64, Yasir Shah 2-169); ABBOTTABAD 38-2 in 13 overs (Yasir Hameed 21 not out).