KARACHI: Mohammad Waqas completed his third century in the Gold League event of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship on Friday as Karachi Dolphins recovered from a disastrous start against Rawalpindi Rams.

The right-hander followed his knocks of 105 and career-best 205 not out in earlier matches with an undefeated 128 to help the Dolphins reach 286-6 when play on the opening day prematurely ended 7.4 overs early at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad.

After being invited to bat by Rams skipper Babar Naeem, the Dolphins lost both their openers without a run on the board when Majid Khan and Hamza Ghanchi went lbw to Rizwan Akbar and Tayyab Abbas, respectively.

Waqas then joined Yasir in an excellent partnership which yielded 149. Yasir was caught by Zahid Mansoor to provide seamer Haseeb Azam the first of his three wickets.

Yasir batted for 221 minutes and struck 11 boundaries during his 147-ball 62.

Haseeb then wasted little time in getting rid of Danish Aziz for four via another catch by Zahid. Danish’s departure meant the Dolphins – who are missing Saad Ali, Fazal Subhan and Shahzaib Ahmed Khan because of their inclusion in the Pakistan ‘A’ squad for the one-day series against Kenya – had lost two wickets in the space of five runs.

However, Babar Hussain Agha seized the initiative in customary carefree style as the right-hander blasted 10 fours in scoring a 58-ball 53 before he was held in the deep by Naved Malik off Tayyab. Babar’s partnership with Waqas was worth 95 in 96 minutes.

Haseeb then returned to take his third wicket of the innings when Faraz Ahmed Khan was bowled for 16 in the closing stages of the evening. The stand between Waqas and Faraz was worth 37.

Waqas, who was incidentally born in Hyderabad 27 years ago, was the Dolphins’ hero. In a stay of six hours and three minutes thus far, the right-handed has negotiated 252 balls and adorned his superb innings with 18 boundaries and one six.

Haseeb was easily the pick of the Rams’ bowlers as he ended the day with figures of 3-48 in 17.2 overs. Tayyab has taken 2-77 in 26 overs but his new-ball partner Rizwan Akbar toiled hard but was largely unrewarded as his figures of 1-93 in 25 overs indicated.

Meanwhile, in a late night development on Thursday, the fixture between Multan Tigers and Lahore Lions which was scheduled to start from Friday at the Multan Cricket Stadium was postponed until Saturday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board PB had previously announced that four matches of the final round to be staged in Karachi would start from Saturday instead of Friday owing to the sit-in protests called by Tehreek-i-Insaf.

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

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad: KARACHI DOLPHINS 286-6 in 82.2 overs (Mohammad Waqas 128 not out, Yasir Mushtaq 62, Babar Hussain Agha 53; Haseeb Azam 3-48, Tayyab Abbas 2-77) vs RAWALPINDI RAMS.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2014