KARACHI, Oct 18: Karachi had lost half their side for 73 runs in the now-curtailed second innings of the trial match against Pakistan Xi at the National Stadium on Tuesday. The Pakistan XI declared their first innings at tea after reaching 377 for seven in response to Karachi’s 378.
Batting a second time, Karachi batsmen lost their cool as they scrambled to get as many runs as possible in the 52-over innings. By stumps, they had already used 25 overs but lost five wickets in the process.
Agha Sabir, who replaced the indisposed Naumanullah, in the playing XI opened the innings with Khalid Latif. Khalid, who scored 94 in the first innings, was caught at the wicket for six.
Faisal Athar made 11 from 15 balls before leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who had come in for Abdul Razzaq at the start of the second innings, dismissed him. Imran also accounted for Agha Sabir after the left-hander made 24.
Arshad Khan, the veteran Test off-spinner, then grabbed the wickets of Faisal Iqbal, the first innings century-maker, and the luckless Asim Kamal in the space of two runs.
Asim, the Test hander, completed a miserable match when he was out for a five-ball duck after contributing only five in the first innings.
Skipper Hasan Raza (18) and wicket-keeper Aminur Rahman saw out the day with Karachi ahead by only 75 runs.
Earlier, Mohammad Yousuf, ex-Yousuf Youhana, gained useful practice for the England series. The 31-year-old right-hander finished on 69 unbeaten runs when the declaration came. Yousuf’s 107-ball knock contained a dozen boundaries.
Younis Khan, the Pakistan XI, added only 23 runs to his overnight 52. His 75 off 157 balls included nine fours. Shoaib Malik, who put on 106 for the third wicket with Younis, made 47.
Shahid Yousuf hit three fours before Danish Kaneria had him caught by Agha Sabir for 18.
Razzaq, who hobbled off the field with a leg injury after bowling just one delivery, played second fiddle to Yousuf during the sixth-wicket stand of 87 with his contribution being 34.
Kaneria picked up four wickets but went for 126 runs in 39 overs. Although, he has remained Pakistan’s potent spin weapon in recent Tests, the leg-spinner has been conceding far too many runs for the team’s liking.
SCOREBOARD
KARACHI (1st Innings) 378 (Faisal Iqbal 101, Khalid Latif 94).
PAKISTAN XI (1st Innings, overnight 192-2):
Imran Farhat b Kaneria 89
Taufiq Umar c Faisal Iqbal b Kaneria 14
Younis Khan b Malik Aftab 75
Shoaib Malik c and b Kaneria 47
Mohammad Yousuf not out 69
Shahid Yousuf c sub (A. Sabir) b Kaneria 18
Abdul Razzaq b Tanvir 34
Kamran Akmal c Amin b Tanvir 0
Mohammad Asif not out 4
EXTRAS (B-11, LB-2, W-1, NB-13) 27
TOTAL (for seven wkts decl, 105 overs) 377
FALL OF WKTS: 1-65, 2-135, 3-241, 4-241, 5-286, 6-373, 7-373.
TO BAT: Arshad Khan, Umar Gul.
BOWLING: Mohammad Sami 23-6-85-0 (2nb); Tanvir Ahmed 19-3-77-2 (9nb, 1w); Malik Aftab 21-6-60-1; Danish Kaneria 39-8-126-4 (2nb); Hasan Raza 3-0-16-0.
KARACHI (2nd Innings):
Agha Sabir b Imran Tahir 24
Khalid Latif c Kamran b Umar Gul 6
Faisal Athar lbw b Imran Tahir 11
Hasan Raza not out 18
Faisal Iqbal b Arshad 5
Asim Kamal lbw b Arshad 0
Aminur Rahman not out 6
EXTRAS (NB-3) 3
TOTAL (for five wkts, 25 overs) 73
FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-26, 3-45, 4-61, 5-63.
BOWLING (to-date): Umar Gul 6-2-12-1 (1nb); Mohammad Asif 5-3-9-0; Abdul Razzaq 0.1-0-0-0; Arshad Khan 6.5-2-14-2; Imran Tahir 7-0-38-2.