KARACHI, Jan 29: Openers Zeeshan Asif and Hasnain Haider missed their coveted hundreds but their efforts were enough to put Faisalabad in firm control of their Quaid-i-Azam Trophy quarterfinal against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) at UBL Sports Complex on Wednesday.

Despite losing the last six wickets for just 28 runs, Faisalabad still managed to gain a substantial first innings lead of 117 runs and then had ZTBL reeling at 29 for two at stumps.

Zeeshan and Hasnain gave Faisalabad a dream start by putting together a first wicket partnership of 185 in 254 minutes off 286 balls before Hasnain went for 93, falling LBW to veteran slow left-armer Javed Hayat.

Hasnain hit only four boundaries in his 191-ball innings.

Zeeshan was caught at slip off leg-spinner Raheel Majeed, 13 short of a century. He batted for slightly over four hours and struck six fours in his 197-ball 87.

Sami-ul-Haq hammered eight boundaries in his unbeaten 57 off 77 balls. But the remaining batsmen came and went in quick successions.

Scoreboard

ZTBL (1st Innings) 173 (Zahoor Elahi 48; Adnan Rasool 5-62, Farooq Iqbal 5-63).