Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: Abbas, Anwar Jr shine with centuries

Guide Multan to 168-run victory over Bahawalpur in round two fixture

KARACHI: Unbeaten centuries by Zain Abbas and Saeed Anwar Jr, along with a five-wicket haul by Test spinner Zulfiqar Babar, guided Multan to a 168-run win over Bahawalpur in their round two fixture of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (Grade II) at Dring Stadium in Bahawalpur on Friday.

Multan resumed their second innings on 103-1 and added 112 runs before declaring their innings on 215-1, thanks to an unbeaten 175-run partnership between Abbas (100) and Anwar (102) to set a target of 350 for Bahawalpur.

In reply, Bahawalpur were bowled out on 182 with the impressive Babar taking five wickets for 61, Anwar claiming two scalps, and the trio of Majid Ali, Ziaul Haq and Rizwan Haider taking a wicket apiece. Meanwhile, for the losing Bahawalpur side, Mohammad Waseem top scored with 37.



An ecstatic Anwar told The Express Tribune: “This is a memorable century for me as me and my partner Zain both scored unbeaten centuries. This happens very rarely, and of course, winning the three-day match is also a great achievement.”

He then revealed how their feat would not have been possible without a bit of luck before singing Babar’s praises. “Given the weather forecast, had it rained, the match would have ended in a draw and we wouldn’t have been able to score the centuries,” said Anwar. “Babar bowled really well during both the innings which shows his experience and skill.”



Elsewhere, the match between Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Abbottabad ended in a draw as no play was possible on the third and final day of the match. However, Abbottabad were awarded more points as they were able to score 292 runs in their first innings in response to AJK’s paltry 110.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2016.

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