Malik scores 2nd ton of the match

Former captain rescues PIA with century in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Express November 25, 2010

Shoaib Malik rescued PIA with a superb century - his second of the match - as they salvaged a draw against Sialkot on the final day of their four-day Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match at the Jinnah Stadium.

Malik, who scored 102 in the first innings, hit 156 off just 185 deliveries as PIA reached 294 for six before declaring their second-innings. Chasing an improbable 409 to win, the hosts managed 109 for one with Kamran Ayub hitting 57 and Mansoor Amjad scoring an unbeaten 50.

But it was Malik who was the star of the show, hitting 24 boundaries and ably supported by Kamran Sajid who hit his second half-century of the match. PIA are placed eighth in the 12-team top division after four drawn matches. Sialkot sit at 10th after losing three matches and drawing two.

HBL suffer first defeat

HBL suffered their first defeat of the tournament, a six-wicket loss against Rawalpindi at the Pindi Stadium on the fourth and last day of the tournament. Following-on after conceding a 226-run first-innings lead, HBL resumed on 265 for eight but could only add 22 to their score.

Rizwan Akbar finished with four for 85 while Nasir Malik took three for 82 as both bowlers finished with seven wickets each in the match. Set a 62-run target, the hosts finished the job in the 15th over. HBL (30) are placed second to Wapda (39) in the table while Rawalpindi (18) rise to fifth.

NBP continue run-spree

Nasir Jamshed hit a patient 87 as NBP drew with Faisalabad at the Sports Stadium in Sargodha.

NBP, who scored 467 for nine in their first-innings that included Kamran Akmal’s career-best 268, on the second day, continued to do well with the bat as they reached 183 for four. Jamshed and Rashid Riaz ensured there were no surprises on the last day as the pair hit impressive half-centuries.

Earlier Faisalabad resumed on 432 for five and lost four wickets for just 16 runs before Naved Latif declared. Akmal’s NBP (21 points) sit at fourth in the table while Faisalabad are second to bottom.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2010.