Pentangular Cup: Hameed stands firm in overcast conditions

Batsman hits 150, helps K-P reach 265 on 3rd day of Pentangular Cup.

KARACHI: Discarded opener Yasir Hameed knocked on the selectors’ door with a superb innings that enabled Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) to reach 265 for four against Balochistan as weather finally permitted play in their Faysal Bank Pentangular Cup clash in Peshawar yesterday.

After the first two days were washed out, Hameed gave the crowd something to cheer about with a quickfire century, scoring a 184-ball 150 on day three of their four-day match. Balochistan, who were eyeing a spot in the final at the expense of Sindh, opted to bowl first as they aimed to take advantage of the overcast conditions.

However, Hameed, who last played a Test for Pakistan in August 2010, foiled Balochistan’s bid to take early wickets. While the opener was aggressive in approach, hitting six maximums and 16 boundaries, left-hander Adnan Raees was watchful as he made 59 off 111 deliveries.

The two helped K-P’s cause, who are yet to win a match in the tournament, and added 167 for the third wicket. Ahmad Raza finally dismissed Hameed and finished the day with three for 88.

Meanwhile, the match between Sindh and Federal Areas saw no play for the third successive day and severely harms Balochistan’s chances of making it to the final. While there was no rain, a wet outfield forced the umpires to decide against allowing play to begin.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2012.