KARACHI: Group-I leaders PIA were in for a rude shock when Quetta Bears dismissed them for only 179 on the opening day of their Silver League game in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship on Thursday.

After being asked to bat first at the National Cricket Ground in Islamabad, PIA struggled from the onset as they collapsed to 88-7 before all-rounder Tahir Khan (51 not out off 80 balls, seven boundaries) and Ali Imran (18) added 84 after Shaharyar Ghani had contributed 39.

The Bears also found it tough as they reached stumps at 81-4.

Hyderabad Hawks collected 213 in 44.4 overs after Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) won the toss and decided to field first at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad. Veteran Faisal Athar slammed seven fours in scoring 75-ball 56.

KRL, in reply, went to stumps at 56-1.

Rehan Afridi struck nine boundaries in making a 101-ball 69 that helped Pakistan Television (PTV) to 275-8 after Lahore Eagles preferred to bowl first at the LCCA Ground in Lahore. Paceman Bilawal Iqbal grabbed 4-51.

Habib Bank, who head the Group-II standings, were 85-2 after bowling out Bahawalpur Stags for a first-innings tally of 221 at the Dring Stadium in Bahawalpur. Seamer Fahad Masood took 4-31.

Bilal Asif hit an unbeaten 103 (231 balls, 16 boundaries) and skipper Faisal Khan completed his second successive century (121 off 195 balls, 12 fours) as they lifted Sialkot Stallions from 22-3 to 277-5 after State Bank invited the home side to bat first at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot.

Bilal, who easily surpassed his previous highest first-class score of 51, and Faisal shared a fourth-wicket partnership worth 215 in 271 minutes.

Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) made 4-0 after dismissing Abbottabad Falcons for 223 at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium in Abbottabad. Fast bowler Tabish Khan captured 5-43.

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

Group-I:

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad: HYDERABAD HAWKS 213 in 44.4 overs (Faisal Athar 56, Lal Kumar 47, Shabih Haider 35; Nauman Ali 3-44, Irfan Ali 3-85, Ali Khan 2-20, Sadaf Hussain 2-51); KRL 56-1 in 12 overs.

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: PTV 275-8 in 84.3 overs (Rehan Afridi 69, Hasan Raza 47, Rizwan Haider 47; Bilawal Iqbal 4-51, Mohammad Waheed 2-82) vs LAHORE EAGLES.

At National Cricket Ground, Islamabad: PIA 179 in 48.4 overs (Tahir Khan 51 not out, Shaharyar Ghani 39; Nazar Hussain 3-58, Ziaullah 2-6, Sher Ali 2-22, Gohar Faiz 2-44); QUETTA BEARS 81-4 in 28 overs (Shahzad Tareen 24, Rameez Raja 22 not out; Hazrat Shah 2-32).

Group II:

At Dring Stadium, Bahawalpur: BAHAWALPUR STAGS 221 in 65.3 overs (Mazhar Bashir 66, Faisal Mubashir 32; Waqas Khan 30; Fahad Masood 4-31, Aftab Khan 2-21,Kamran Hussain 2-24, Aslam Qureshi 2-37); HABIB BANK 85-2 in 17 overs (Fakhar Zaman 38, Imran Farhat 27).

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: SIALKOT STALLIONS 277-5 in 80 overs (Faisal Khan 121, Bilal Asif 103 not out; Aamir Yamin 3-52, Mohammad Naved 2-44) vs STATE BANK.

At Abbottabad Stadium, Abbottabad: ABBOTTABAD FALCONS 223 in 82.3 overs (Sohail Akhtar 77, Rameez Ahmed 42; Tabish Khan 5-43, Tariq Haroon 3-57, Adnan Ghaus 2-47); SSGC 4-0 in 3 overs.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2014