Colourful final begins

talking point of day was not PIA captain Kamran Sajid’s invaluable 90 that enabled his side reach decent total.

KARACHI: It was a day of fluctuating fortunes as both PIA and HBL found it hard to press on on the first day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy final at the National Stadium. At close, HBL reached 21 for one after PIA managed 228 in the first innings.

However, the talking point of the day was not PIA captain Kamran Sajid’s invaluable 90 that enabled his side reach a decent total. Nor was it HBL leg-spinner Danish Kaneria’s four for 66. The highlight of the day’s play was that it was the first time that a first-class match was being played under lights in Pakistan and an orange ball was being used as the Pakistan Cricket Board attempted to draw a huge crowd.

Day’s play

PIA were off to a terrible start as they lost Agha Sabir in the third over before HBL reduced them to 53 for three.

Shoaib Malik and Sajid added 63 for the fourth wicket before a collapse saw PIA tottering at 152 for seven. But the tail wagged with Sajid occupying one end as PIA reached 228 before Kaneria struck to send them packing.

Anwar Ali then struck in his second over as HBL lost Kamran Hussain as the see-saw match continued.

Low turnout for historic day

While the match created hype and excitement over the use of lights and the orange ball, security was especially beefed up over the arrival of International Cricket Council (ICC) General Manager Cricket Operations Dave Richardson.

There were more policemen than the number of spectators inside the National Stadium  and while the response of the crowd may increase in the coming days – especially over the weekend – the first day’s play was hardly witnessed by Karachiites.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2011.