LAHORE, Nov 27: Leg-spinner Yasir Shah captured six for 87 to as the NWFP staged a stunning comeback to put themselves in a title-winning position against Balochistan on the penultimate day of the RBS Pentangular Cup final at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday.
Balochistan, who were well placed at 167 for two at one stage in pursuit of the 272-run target collapsed dramatically to close at 234 for nine on another fluctuating day in this enthralling final between two sides chasing their maiden title.
As a result of this calamity, Balochistan still need 38 runs with their last pair – tailenders Azharullah (13) and Zulfiqar Babar (5) – at the crease.
Openers Shoaib Khan Junior (39) and Usman Tariq (63) provided the kind of start Balochistan were looking for. The left-handed pair put on 70 before Shoaib was caught behind off paceman Shakeel-ur-Rehman.
Saeed Anwar Junior (27) then helped Usman add 53 for the second wicket before the former was caught by Aftab Khan off left-arm paceman Junaid Khan.
Usman and skipper Misbah carried the score to 167 before Yasir engineered a dramatic turnaround for the NWFP side as most of the batsmen literally threw away wickets.
Misbah, the Pakistan vice-captain, was neatly taken behind the stumps by Zulfiqar for 27 (three fours and one six). Saeed bin Nasir was caught by Umar Gul at gulley for a first-ball duck. After the addition of four runs, Yasir struck again when he clean bowled Bilal Khilji for no score.
With the total on 190, Junaid bowled the well-set Usman, who hit six fours and one six during his long stay of 288 minutes in which faced 196 balls.
Yasir completed the NWFP’s dominance by sending back Kamran Hussain (5), Gulraiz Sadaf (12) and Abdur Rauf (16). However, Azharullah and Zulfiqar Babar survived long enough to ensure the match goes into its scheduled fifth and final day as umpires Nadeem Ghauri and Zameer Ghauri called off play 15 minutes early because of fading light.
Scoreboard
NWFP (1st Innings) 222 (Zulfiqar Jan 83; Abdul Rauf 5-72).
BALOCHISTAN (1st Innings) 174 (Kamran Hussain 61; Shakeel-ur-Rehman 4-41).
NWFP (2nd Innings) 223 (Adnan Raees 98; Abdur Rauf 5-63).
BALOCHISTAN (2nd innings, overnight 33-0):
Shoaib Khan Jr c Zulfiqar b Shakeel 39
Usman Tariq b Junaid 63
Saeed Anwar Jr c Aftab b Junaid 27
Misbah-ul-Haq c Zulfiqar b Y. Shah 27
Saeed B.Nasir c Umar b Y. Shah 0
Bilal Khilji b Yasir 0
Gulraiz Sadaf c Y. Hameed b Y. Shah 12
Kamran Hussain c Y. Hameed b Y. Shah 5
Abdul Rauf c Shoaib b Y. Shah 16
Azharullah not out 13
Zulfiqar Babar not out 5
EXTRAS (LB-18, NB-2, NB-7) 27
TOTAL (for nine wkt, 80.4 overs) 234
FALL OF WKTS: 1-70, 2-123, 3-167, 4-167, 5-171, 6-190, 7-195,8-202, 9-217.
BOWLING (to-date): Umar Gul 23.4-5-55-0 (2nb); Shakeel-ur-Rehman 11-4-30-1; Junaid Khan 17-3-37-2 (5nb, 1w); Yasir Shah 24-2-87-6; Aftab Khan 5-0-7-0.