KARACHI, Jan 15: Peshawar secured their second straight victory in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Gold League competition when they beat Karachi Urban by a margin of five wickets at the National Stadium here on Monday.
Peshawar, who picked up full points to take their tally to 18, never looked like losing after openers Riffatullah Mohmand and Aftab Khan provided a perfect start with a stand of 118 in their chase for 231.
Aftab, who made 53 in the first innings, blasted 11 boundaries in scoring 81 off 174 balls while Riffatullah struck 10 fours in making a 110-ball 66 after the visitors started the fourth and final day at 22 for no wicket.
Janisar Khan, promoted in the order, hammered seven fours in a bright contribution of 37 off 51 deliveries as he and Aftab put on 77 for the second wicket. Aftab eventually fell to part-time leg-spin of Karachi Urban skipper Hasan Raza when he lofted one into Tahir Khan’s lap at mid-off.
For the second time in the match Wajahatullah Wasti remained unbeaten. After top-scoring with 81 in the first innings, the former Test right-hander made 13.
Slow left-armer Nauman Alvi captured three for 66 while Hasan took two for 23.
Karachi Urban, winners over Karachi Harbour in the opening round, were unhappy with the standard of umpiring in this game as several decisions went against them.
Karachi Urban face Lahore Shalimar in the third round fixture at the same venue while Peshawar travel home to host Karachi Harbour in matches starting from Thursday.
Scoreboard
KARACHI URBAN (1st Innings) 214 (Imran Javed 52; Waqar Ahmed 6-50).
PESHAWAR (1st Innings) 260 (Wajahatullah Wasti 81 not out, Aftab Khan 53; Tahir Khan 4-78).
KARACHI URBAN (2nd Innings) 276 (Saeed bin Nasir 96).
PESHAWAR (2nd Innings, overnight 22-0):
Riffatullah Mohmand c Amin b Nauman 66
Aftab Khan c Tahir b Hasan 81
Janisar Khan c Tanvir b Nauman 37
Shoaib Khan c Imran b Nauman 6
Wajahatullah Wasti not out 13
Zulfiqar Jan c Tahir b Hasan 2
Aslam Qureshi not out 9
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-4, W-5, NB-9) 19
TOTAL (for five wkts, 65.5 overs) 233
FALL OF WKTS: 1-118, 2-195, 3-204, 4-210, 5-218.
BOWLING: Malik Aftab 9-3-29-0 (1w); Tanvir Ahmed 12-3-58-0 (4nb); Tahir Khan 11-1-40-0; Imran Javed 6-2-12-0 (1nb); Nauman Alvi 21-2-66-3 (4nb); Hasan Raza 6.5-2-23-2.
RESULT: Peshawar won by five wickets.
UMPIRES: M. Akbar Khan and Iqbal Butt.
MATCH REFEREE: Taslim Arif.
OFFICIAL SCORER: Salman Hussain.