KARACHI, April 10: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) cashed in on the benign NBP Sports Complex surface to make a fitting response to Punjab’s huge first-innings total of 533 for nine declared in the Pentangular Cup fixture here on Tuesday.
Led by Saeed bin Nasir’s 58, the department side closed the second day of the four-day clash at 104 for no wicket despite losing Ashar Zaidi to a finger injury at start of the innings.
But Saeed, who has so far hit seven fours and one six, and Azhar Ali (37) found no terror in the pitch. Pakistan paceman Rana Naved-ul-Hasan made an inauspicious comeback after a forgetful World Cup by being hit around for 47 runs in seven overs.
Resuming at 325 for four, Punjab lost wickets at regular intervals until Imran Khalid and Wahab Riaz came together in a remarkable partnership to add 123 for the ninth-wicket before Misbah-ul-Haq applied the closure.
Imran remained unbeaten with 51 while Wahab struck 68 with the aid of five fours and two sixes.
Scoreboard
PUNJAB (1st Innings, overnight 325-4):
Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Saeed Ajmal 88
Imran Nazir c Zulfiqar b Bilal 60
Bilal Khilji lbw b Bilal 41
Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Bilal 43
Naved Latif c Saeed Anwar b Arshad 69
Ayub Dogar c Zulfiqar b Akhtar 40
Zulqarnain Haider c Zulfiqar b Shahzad 24
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan b Saeed Ajmal 23
Imran Khalid not out 51
Wahab Riaz c Akhtar b Ashar 68
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-13, W-1, NB-8) 26
TOTAL (for nine decl, 149.3 overs) 533
FALL OF WKTS: 1-115, 2-175, 3-224, 4-303, 5-348, 6-384, 7-396, 8-410, 9-533.
DID NOT BAT: Adnan Rasool.
BOWLING: Mohammad Irshad 17-0-76-0 (6nb); Shahzad Butt 12-1-57-1 (2nb, 1w); Akhtar Ayub 16-4-58-1; Saeed Ajmal 43-7-172-2; Saeed Anwar 32-9-59-0; Bilal Asad 20-6-58-3; Ashar Zaidi 7.3-1-25-1; Azhar Ali 2-0-11-0.
KRL (1st Innings):
Ashar Zaidi retired hurt 2
Azhar Ali not out 37
Saeed bin Nasir not out 58
EXTRAS (LB-2, W-1, NB-4) 7
TOTAL (for no wkt, 28 overs) 104
TO BAT: Mohammad Wasim, Saeed Anwar, Bilal Asad, Mohammad Wasim, Zulfiqar Jan, Shahzad Butt, Mohammad Irshad, Saeed Ajmal, Akhtar Ayub.
BOWLING (to-date): Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 7-0-47-0 (3nb, 1w); Wahab Riaz 5-1-16-0 (1nb); Imran Khalid 7-3-8-0; Adnan Rasool 6-1-24-0; Mohammad Hafeez 3-1-7-0.