Quaid Trophy: Riaz wrecks havok with nine-wicket haul

Fast-bowler’s devastating spell flattens Ravi in Super Eight.

KARACHI: Speedster Wahab Riaz sent a telling reminder to selectors by picking up nine wickets in an innings including a hat-trick to help Lahore Shalimar bulldoze Lahore Ravi in their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Super-Eight group match at the LCCA Ground yesterday.

Although play of only 56.1 overs was possible on day two, Riaz made them count with his sheer pace as Ravi were bundled out for 153 after resuming the day at 53 for no loss. Yasir Ajmal top-scored with an unbeaten 34 as Riaz gave away 59 runs off his 20.1 overs to claim the magnificent haul and a hat-trick that included Ahmed Shahzad and Adnan Akmal among his victims.

However, he was unlucky not to complete a magical 10-wicket haul in an innings as one wicket was claimed by new-ball partner Aizaz Cheema.

But the left-armer was pleased with his display and said he is content with his performance on the day.

“I’m more than pleased to be able to produce a splendid show,” Riaz told The Express Tribune. “A 10-wicket haul would’ve been great but I’m happy with what I did with the ball today. I remain hopeful of playing for Pakistan and hence trying to work hard to rectify even minor flaws in my bowling in domestic cricket.”

Riaz has been relegated to the bench of late for Pakistan but the quickie said that he is not disheartened and is only focusing on improving his performance. His team then responded in emphatic manner with the bat as Shalimar were 121 for one in just 33 overs as Umar Akmal remained not out on 54 while Imran Butt was with him on 52.

In the other group B match, Hyderabad’s Lal Kumar took four wickets to restrict Karachi Blues to 183 for nine despite Khurram Manzoor’s 62-run knock on day one at the Mirpur Stadium.

In group A, hosts Rawalpindi made 195 for three in 50 overs against Islamabad on day two courtesy undefeated fifties from Shoaib Minhas (88) and Babar Naeem (78) at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. Meanwhile, no play was possible on day one of the Karachi Whites-Sialkot match.

In the group of bottom-placed teams, no play was possible between Abbottabad and Multan at the Gohati Stadium while Peshawar were 54 for one in their second-innings against Quetta after both teams forfeited their first-innings.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2013.