Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final: Imam's double ton puts HBL on brink of victory

Opening batsman makes 200 to steer side to 485-1, setting a 444-run target for WAPDA

KARACHI: An unbeaten double century by Imamul haq helped HBL post a strong target against WAPDA on the fourth day of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday.

HBL resumed their play on 264-0 and added 221 runs for the loss of a wicket before declaring their second innings on 485-1 after 122.5 overs.

Imam scored an unbeaten 200 runs off 364 balls hitting 14 fours and a six while Fakhar Zaman and Ahmed Shehzad contributed with 170 and 104 runs respectively.

WAPDA’s Zulfiqar Babar took the lone wicket of Zaman.

WAPDA, chasing a daunting 444-run target, made 83 runs for the loss of two wickets before play was called off. Opener Adnan Raees (15) was caught leg before in the 17th over, while Zahid Mansoor (one) was dismissed in the 19th over.

At the end of play, captain Salman Butt (38) and Mohammad Saad (20) were on the crease for WAPDA.

For HBL, Usman Khan claimed both wickets for 21 runs.

HBL skipper Abdur Rehman cut a happy figure at the end of the fourth day and is confident his side will be able to win the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. “We are in a good position; we have enough runs on the board and have dismissed two of their batsmen as well. The final day would be really exciting as we will be going in with an aggressive mindset; we want to take as many wickets as we can in the day,” he said.