Patron’s Trophy final: Bowlers delight as 19 wickets fall on day one

Brighto Paints dismissed for 91 as Cheema takes five, before PIA end day on 150-9.

KARACHI: A five-wicket haul by Aizaz Cheema helped Pakistan International Airline (PIA) restrict Brighto Paints to just 91 on the opening day of the four-day final of the Patron’s Trophy (Grade II) yesterday.

Opting to bat first at the Diamond Club in Islamabad, Brighto Paints were going along smoothly at 42 without loss as openers Waqas Saleem (15) and Mohammad Idrees (29) gave them a solid platform. But it was all downhill from there as they lost three top-order batsmen in quick succession, with Cheema dismissing both openers and then Mohammad Waleed on a duck.



Brighto Paints’ Akbar Badsha stayed on the crease for a while but was soon sent back by PIA’s Syed Najaf Shah after scoring 12 runs, while Cheema took his fourth by dismissing Salman Ali Agha on duck. The former Pakistan pacer completed his five-for after dismissing Waqas Ahmed for 12.

Cheema was supported by Ali Imran Pasha, who claimed three.



PIA didn’t fare much better either as they ended the day 150-9; despite opener Kamran Sajid and Fahad Iqbal scoring 45 and 49 respectively. However, they still have a 59-run first-innings lead in hand going into day two.

“The wicket is perfect for bowlers; that is why I was able to take so many wickets,” Cheema told The Express Tribune. “We still have three days left, but I think the result might come before that. Both teams will do their best to score as many runs as they can.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th,  2016.

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