KARACHI: Tailender Sohail Khan struck a defiant half-century to help Karachi Blues make a respectable 253 in their first innings against State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on the opening day of the Faysal Bank Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship match at the National Stadium here on Thursday.
The Blues were 100-6 at one stage after skipper Mohammad Sami won the toss and decided to bat first. Wicket-keeper Javed Mansoor (51) and Sami (44) then shared a partnership of, but it was the invaluable contribution of Sohail that gave stability to the final total. Sohail bludgeoned 56 off 62 balls with the aid of six fours and two sixes.
Mohammad Ayub Dogar had the honour of striking the first century of the new first-class season when his undefeated 105 inspired Sialkot to 253-5 after Habib Bank captain Younis Khan invited the home team to bat first at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot.
HBL had the regional side reeling at 19-3 with left-arm seamer Kamran Hussain sending back Kamran Younis (6), Hafiz Majid Jahangir (0) and Sialkot skipper Mansoor Amjad (0) with the new ball. But opener Mohammad Yasin and Ayub came to the rescue in a fine partnership of 145 before Yasin was trapped LBW by Kamran for 89.
Nasir Malik, a 20-year-old left-arm medium-pacer playing just his ninth first-class match, rattled the star-studded National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) by returning career-best figures of seven for 42 in 14 overs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The bankers were sent packing for 153 with Test reject Fawad Alam (51) being the top-scorer.
Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) were in full control at 75 without loss after bowling out Faisalabad for 199 at the Iqbal Stadium
In the remaining other matches, hosts Abbottabad reached 230-7 against Wapda who chose to bowl first, while PIA collected 144-2 in 37.4 overs against Islamabad on a truncated day’s play at the Diamond Club Ground in the federal capital.
Close of play scores (day one of four):
At National Stadium, Karachi: KARACHI BLUES 253 in 73.3 overs (Sohail Khan 56, Javed Mansoor 51, Mohammad Sami 44; Hasan Mahmood 6-88); STATE BANK 23-2 in 7 overs.
At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad: FAISALABAD 199 in 68 overs (Zeeshan Asif 43, Abdur Rauf 42; Zohaib Khan 5-51); ZTBL 75-0 in 13 overs (Sharjeel Khan 47 not out).
At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: SIALKOT 253-5 in 83 overs (M. Ayub Dogar 105 not out, Mohammad Yasin 89; Kamran Hussain 4-60); HABIB BANK.
At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: PIA 144-2 in 37.4 overs (Agha Sabir 69 not out) v ISLAMABAD.
At Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium: NATIONAL BANK 153 in 57.1 overs (Fawad Alam 51, Khurram Manzoor 44; Nasir Malik 7-42); RAWALPINDI 41-1 in 14 overs.
At Abbottabad Cricket Stadium: ABBOTTABAD 230-7 in 92 overs (Zulfiqar Babar 4-71) v WAPDA.