Farooq smashes record 14 sixes in President’s Trophy

MIT Solutions opener hits 99-ball 163 as five batsmen make hundreds on the opening day of the second round

Mohammad Farooq rewrote the record books with a blistering 163 off 99 balls, including a record 14 sixes, as the second round of Pakistan’s President’s Trophy Grade-I began with a flood of runs on Friday.

Farooq reached his century in just 67 balls, combining 11 fours with his record haul of sixes to surpass Majid Khan’s mark for the most sixes by a Pakistan batter in a first-class innings.

His assault set the platform for Markhor IT Solutions, who closed on 476-4 against Khan Research Laboratories at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Farooq’s departure did little to slow MIT, with Atiq-ur-Rehman making 142 from 137 balls and Salman Khan Jnr unbeaten on 106. The pair added 217 for the fourth wicket as MIT dominated the opening day.

At Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, Ghani also enjoyed a productive day against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited. Their bowlers dismissed SNGPL for 152 before Sharjeel Khan smashed 156 from 120 balls, including 25 fours and five sixes, to leave Ghani on 192-2 at stumps.

Shoaib Akhtar Junior claimed 5-34 and Khurram Shahzad took 4-42 to share nine wickets for Ghani.

At Peshawar, Kingsmen Academy skipper Mohammad Tayyab Arif marked only his second first-class appearance with his maiden century, scoring 105 as his side were bowled out for 215 by Oil and Gas Development Company Limited.

OGDCL pacer Mohammad Amir Khan took 5-51, his fifth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, while Mohammad Hasnain claimed 3-36. OGDCL reached 57-3 by the close.

State Bank of Pakistan finished the day on 278-9 against Pakistan Television in Abbottabad, with Hasan Raza scoring 75 and Mohammad Ghazi Ghori making 66. Rameez Aziz was unbeaten on 42 at stumps.

Scores in brief – 2nd round – Day 1 stumps

SNGPL v Ghani at Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad

Ghani lead by 40 runs with eight wickets remaining in second innings

SNGPL 152 all out, 41.5 overs (Sameer Minhas 53, Muhammad Imran 52; Shoaib Akhtar Jnr 5-34, Khurram Shahzad 4-42)

Ghani 192-2, 41 overs (Sharjeel Khan 156, Khawaja Arham 33 not out; Shahnawaz Dahani 2-58)

KRL v Markhor IT Solutions at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

MIT Solutions 476-4, 87.2 overs (Mohammad Farooq 163, Atiq-ur-Rehman 142, Salman Khan Jnr 106 not out, Hasnain Nadeem 36; Ahmed Bashir 2-53)

PTV v SBP at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium

SBP 278-9, 71 overs (Hasan Raza 75, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori 66, Rameez Aziz 42 not out, Sirajuddin 25, Faham-ul-Haq 23; Musa Khan 3-47, Amad Butt 3-60, Haris Rauf 2-73)

OGDCL v Kingsmen Academy at Imran Khan Stadium, Peshawar

Kingsmen Academy 215 all out, 57.3 overs (Mohammad Tayyab Arif 105, Mohammad Suleman 33, Salman Ali Agha 25; Mohammad Amir Khan 5-51, Mohammad Hasnain 3-36)

OGDCL 57-3, 15 overs (Saad Khan 19; Mohammad Ilyas 2-31)