Quaid Trophy: Khalil claims nine as ZTBL crush Sialkot

Fast-bowler finishes with 13 wickets in the match; WAPDA beat Karachi Blues.

Mohammad Khalil claimed nine wickets in Sialkot’s second-innings as ZTBL won by a mammoth 250 runs on the fourth and final day of their Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match at the Jinnah Stadium. The 28-year-old Khalil, who has played two Tests for Pakistan with the last one in 2005, claimed nine for 100 and finished with 13 wickets in the match to help ZTBL recover after their second-round loss earlier in the tournament.

Faisal Khan was dismissed for 99 and Mohammad Yaseen made 54 as Sialkot were bundled out for 268 in the second-innings after being set a daunting 527-run target. Sharjeel Khan had made 205 in ZTBL’s second-innings, who led by 24, as his side declared after making 502 for nine.

Riffatullah helps WAPDA win

Riffatullah hit a superb hundred, helping Wapda beat Karachi Blues by six wickets on the final day at the National Stadium. The batsman hit 18 fours in his 175-ball knock and was ably supported by Bilal Khilji, who made 67, as Wapda overhauled the 210-run target in the 61st over. Karachi, led by Mohammad Sami, made 144 in their first-innings before Wapda responded with a total of 219. In reply, opener Shahzaib Hasan made 71 as Karachi were bowled out for 284 to set a moderate total.

HBL down Rawalpindi

HBL prevailed by 131 runs as Rawalpindi were dismissed for 198, in pursuit of a competitive 330-run total at the Pindi Stadium. The hosts, resuming on 159 for seven, could only add 39 before losing their last three wickets, with Fahad Masood and Sarmad Anwar claiming three each for the match.

SBP draw with Islamabad

Rameez Alam made an unbeaten 61 as SBP survived 72 overs on the final day, reaching 188 for six to record a draw against Islamabad. The hosts, who had set an improbable target of 358, tried desperately for breakthroughs but watched Alam hold one end together to rescue SBP.

Sarfraz shines in draw

Sarfraz Ahmed followed up his first-innings knock of 87 with 152 in the second as PIA drew against Faisalabad, reaching 315 for six on the fourth day at the Iqbal Stadium. The wicket-keeper, pressing for national selection, faced just 147 balls as PIA, trailing by 19 runs in the first-innings, avoided any last-day mishaps after Faislabad were earlier all out for 415.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2011.