Quaid Trophy: Faisalabad ahead but still not safe

Sadaf takes 4 wickets to keep Pindi in the match.

KARACHI: Faisalabad took a first-inning lead against Rawalpindi but were still in trouble on day two of their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy low-scoring Group-II match.

Rawalpindi started the day on two for one while replying to 226 but bundled out for 132 in 40.1 overs. In their second-innings, Faisalabad were struggling on 88 for eight at close with an overall lead of 182 runs. Sadaf Hussain claimed four scalps while Haseeb Azam and Nasir Malik picked up two wickets apiece.

Elsehwere, Mohtashim Ali scored an unbeaten 87 to lead Karachi Whites’ strong reply against Hyderabad who made 305. Whites scored 161 for two at stumps. Aizaz Cheema’s four-wicket haul put Lahore Shalimar on top against Abbottabad, who were reeling at 29 for six. Earlier, Shalimar were all out for 199.

Nayyar Abbas scored an important 67-run knock to give Sialkot an important nine-run first-innings lead against Islamabad as they made 202 in while replying to 193.

Bilal Butt chipped in with 55 while Rao Iftikhar claimed a five-wicket haul. Islamabad reached 77 for three at stumps.

Lahore Ravi were in good position to take a first-innings lead courtesy Irfan Haider’s 81 as they ended the day on 218 for four in their quest to Multan 309 at the LCCA Ground in Lahore. Quetta got off to a flyer against hosts Peshawar thanks to centuries from Ali Asad (103 not out) and  Taimur Ali (120) as they made 258 for three.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2013.