PIA flying high in Quaid Trophy

Karachi in trouble, Islamabad facing huge defeat.

PIA were on top against Karachi Blues after reducing the hosts to 136 for eight, still trailing by 314 runs in the first-innings at stumps on day two of their Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match.

Najaf Shah claimed three for 31 after wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed hit 131 to take PIA into a commanding position.

Elsewhere, Mohammad Ayub was unbeaten on 97 as Sialkot were reduced to 153 for four, needing another four runs to make Wapda bat again. Ali Azmat hit a century and Zulfiqar Babar made 81 to take Wapda to 296.

ZTBL scored 178 for seven, still 126 behind Rawalpindi’s total of 304 with Sadaf Hussain taking five for 50.

Waqar Orakzai was 110 not out with SBP well-placed at 250 for two, in reply to Abbottabad’s 285 in the first-innings.

Islamabad were staring at a huge defeat against HBL, following on after a 293-run first-innings deficit and reaching 59 for no loss. Fahad Masood claimed five for 31 to help dismiss Islamabad for just 108.

Fawad Alam, Aqeel Anjum and Qaiser Abbas all hit centuries as NBP declared at 539 for four before Faisalabad made 79 for one in the first-innings.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2011.