LAHORE, Sept 18: An ninth wicket stand of 62 runs between opener Adnan Tariq and Tariq Mahmood helped Sialkot keep their chances alive against Lahore in the Inter-region Under-19 Cricket Championship final on the second day at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Adnan had scored an unbeaten 85 as Sialkot gave a spirited reply in the second innings with a total of 230 for 8 despite conceding a heavy 119-run lead in the first innings.

Sialkot conceded the lead after bowling out Lahore at 192 in first innings which they resumed at 142 for five in the morning, while replying to rival’s first innings paltry total of 73.

Adnan struck 10 fours and two sixes in a 140-ball knock. Tariq, who excelled with the leather, taking three for 47, came to rescue his team with the bat too, and was undefeated at 40, marked with seven fours.

By close of play, Sialkot were 111 runs ahead with two second innings wickets intact.

Besides Adnan and Tariq, the other key scorer for Sialkot was middle-order batsman Arslan Anwer who made 43 with the help of nine boundaries while facing 57 balls.

Pacer Wahab Riaz, who picked up six for 26 in the first innings, had earned three for 68 in the second innings. Leg- spinner Sohail Ahmed finished the day with 2-16.

Earlier, only skipper Zulqarnain Haider could make a major contribution of 20 as Lahore were bundled out for 192.

Besides Tariq, pacer Nawaz Sardar also snapped up 3-29. Leg-spinner Ali Aslam got two for 25.

Summarised scores.

Lahore vs Sialkot (final) at the Gaddafi Stadium. Sialkot (1st innings): 73 for all in 39.3 overs. And 230 for 8 in 66.4overs (Adnan Zaheer 85 batting, Arslan Anwar 43, Tariq Mahmood 40 batting; Wahab Riaz 3-68, Sohail Ahmed 2-16).

LAHORE (1st innings, overnight 142-5): Sohail Ahmed 41, Salman Akbar 38, Zulqarnain Haider 20, Abid Ali 28; Tariq Mahmood 3-47, Nawaz Sardar 3-29, Ali Aslam 2-25).