KARACHI, Feb 7: Fawwad Alam underlined his potential as a future Pakistan star when he struck a magnificent century to help Karachi Harbour pile up 323 for six against Faisalabad on the opening day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Gold League match at the National Stadium here on Wednesday.
Fawwad, the 21-year-old left-handed batsman, made 103 stylish runs while dominating a fifth-wicket partnership of 132 with Fahad Iqbal, who scored 33.
Equally at ease against both pace and spin, Fawwad hit 15 boundaries in his 149-ball knock in a stay of 220 minutes before he and Fahad were dismissed in quick successions in the closing overs after Faisalabad opted to take the second new ball.
Fawwad, who made headlines during the National Twenty20 tournament in December, is the brightest batting prospect to emerge this season and has already scored two centuries in the current championship.
Fawwad, however, needlessly threw away his wicket when he was well-set as he played an indiscreet stroke against pacer Ahmed Hayat and was caught in the covers. Danish Kaneria is leading Karachi Harbour in this game having returned from South Africa six days ago after being surprisingly overlooked for the ODI squad after performing creditably in the Tests.
His decision to bat first paid off well as Khalid Latif and newcomer Wajihuddin put on 53 for the first wicket. While Khalid made just 18, Wajihuddin, who batted for 162 minutes and 121 balls, compiled a neat 67, inclusive of nine fours and one six, in the unaccustomed role of an opener.
Wajihuddin was also involved in a productive stand of 85 for the second wicket with Akbar Rehman (38). Mansoor Baig scored 24 before he failed to read a doosra from off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and glided the ball into the hands of Ijaz Ahmed Jr, who held the catch at second attempt.
Scoreboard
KARACHI HARBOUR (1st Innings):
Khalid Latif b A. Hayat 18
Wajihuddin c Salman b Asad 67
Akbar Rehman c Ijaz b Asad 38
Mansoor Baig c Ijaz b Saeed 24
Fawwad Alam c Faisal b A. Hayat 103
Fahad Iqbal lbw b Asad 33
Sarfraz Ahmed not out 3
Danish Kaneria not out 8
EXTRAS (B-10, LB-1, W-1, NB-17) 29
TOTAL (for six wkts, 90 overs) 323
FALL OF WKTS: 1-53, 2-138, 3-140, 4-180, 5-312, 6-314.
TO BAT: Atif Maqbool, Anwar Ali Khan, Uzair-ul-Haq.
BOWLING (to-date): Faisal Afridi 13-4-44-0 (1nb); Asad Ali 27-3-97-3 (13nb, 1w); Ahmed Hayat 16-2-57-2 (2nb); Saeed Ajmal 13-1-57-1; Imran Khalid 16-1-42-0; Ijaz Ahmed Jr 5-1-15-0.
FAISALABAD: Asif Hussain, Imran Ali, Misbah-ul-Haq, Ijaz Ahmed Jr, Naved Latif, Mohammad Salman, Ahmed Hayat, Faisal Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Asad Ali.
UMPIRES: Iqbal Butt and M. Akbar Khan.
MATCH REFEREE: Naeem Ahmed.
OFFICIAL SCORER: Salman Hussain.