HBL spin back into contention

Kaneria, Hussain shared six wickets between them as PIA falter on third day of Quaid-i-Azam Trophy final against HBL.

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and fast-bowler Kamran Hussain shared six wickets between them as PIA faltered on the third day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy final against HBL.

At stumps, PIA were precariously placed at 232 for eight in their second-innings, an overall lead of just 147, after Fahad Masood had taken HBL past 300 earlier in the day.

While Fahad Iqbal was not out on 46 for PIA, there was little support left for him after Kaneria and Hussain ran through the batting line-up. Captain Kamran Sajid followed up his 90 in the first-innings with another half-century but Kaneria took three for 83 and Hussain claimed three for 35 to keep PIA in check at the National Stadium.

After losing Anop Santosh, PIA rebuilt through Agha Sabir and Sajid before Masood broke the 46-run partnership. Faisal Iqbal could not contribute much to the total and Shoaib Malik’s fabulous form with the bat failed to grab the headlines in the final as PIA were reduced to 125 for four.

Sajid added 74 with Iqbal as the innings gained momentum before Hussain trapped the captain leg-before and also completed his 400 first-class wickets. The innings derailed after the dismissal as Kaneria and Hussain struck at regular intervals to put HBL on top.

HBL’s tail wags

Earlier, resuming on 280 for eight, Masood continued his rearguard action to complete his half-century and took HBL past the 300-mark. He was eventually dismissed for 66 by Malik but had done the damage by then as HBL ended the innings with a 85-run first-innings lead.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2011.