RAWALPINDI, Feb 25: An unbroken 147-run sixth-wicket stand between Arsalan Mir and Saleem Mughal helped Sui Gas take a first innings lead and pick up vital three points from their drawn Patron's Trophy Pool 'B' match against KRL on Friday.
Both batsmen struck elegant half centuries powering past KRL's first innings total of 210 as Sui Gas reached 256 for five when play ended after the eighth mandatory over.
Arsalan scored a fine 77, hitting seven fours and a six, and faced 113 deliveries while Saleem was more brisk cracking 68 off only 88 balls. He dispatched eight hits to the ropes.
Hafiz Majid was unlucky though to miss his half century by a whisker, and was trapped leg before by Ali Naqvi for 49, the bowler returning figures of three for 50. But the bowlers who really excelled were Sui Gas's pace men Mohammad Irshad and Sajid Ali, both of whom restricted KRL after the home side had resumed their first innings at the overnight score of 146-5.
Irshad, who had three wickets to his credit on Thursday, snared another three to finish with figures of six for 78 while his partner in attack, Sajid claimed four for 52.
Sajid sent overnight not out opener Saeed Anwar Jr on his way early on the last day having him caught by Shakeel Ansar for 86. Saeed could add only 17 runs to his overnight score, his 138-ball innings featuring 16 boundaries.
SCOREBOARD
KRL (1st Innings, overnight 146-5):
Saeed Anwar Jr c Shakeel b Sajid 86
Mohammad Saleem lbw b Sajid 0
Ashraf Ali lbw b Sajid 1
Ali Naqvi c Shakeel b Irshad 32
Saeed bin Nasir c Hafeez b Irshad 0
Asif Iqbal c Tauqir b Irshad 15
Yasir Arafat c Hafeez b Irshad 11
Zulfiqar Jan c Shakeel b Irshad 8
Azhar Ali c Shakeel b Sajid 21
Faisal Afridi c and b Irshad 0
Saad Khan not out 6
EXTRAS (B-8, LB-5, W-5, NB-12) 30
TOTAL (all out, 55.3 overs) 210
FALL OF WKTS: 1-4, 2-34, 3-89, 4-90, 5-145, 6-173, 7-177, 8-185, 9-185.
BOWLING: Mohammad Irshad 21-3-78-6 (2nb, 5w); Sajid Ali 17.3-6-52-4 (4nb); Tauqir Hussain 11-2-49-0 (6nb); Mohammad Hafeez 6-1-18-0.
SUI GAS (1st Innings):
Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Ali Naqvi 26
Yasir Arafat Jr lbw b Yasir 0
Hafiz Majid lbw b Ali Naqvi 49
Sohail Idrees run out 1
Misbahul Haq b Ali Naqvi 16
Arsalan Mir not out 77
Saleem Mughal not out 68
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-3, NB-12) 19
TOTAL (for five wkts, 60 overs) 256
FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-67, 3-72, 4-102, 5-109.
BOWLING: Yasir Arafat 12-1-51-1 (8nb); Saad Khan 13-0-56-0 (2nb); Faisal Afridi 10-2-35-0; Ali Naqvi 15-2-50-3 (1nb); Azhar Ali 6-0-24-0; Saeed bin Nasir 3-0-25-0; Asif Iqbal 1-0-8-0.