Pentangular Cup: Faisal, Fawad star for Sindh

K-P defeated, Federal Areas draw Pentangular Cup match with Punjab.

Sindh secured a five-wicket win over Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), courtesy crucial knocks from Faisal Iqbal and Fawad Alam and some fine bowling by their captain Mohammad Sami on the fourth and final day of their opening clash of the Pentangular Cup, according to details provided by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Set 121 to win, Sindh’s strong batting line-up, which posted 403 in the first-innings, was made to work hard by the K-P bowlers as Imran Khan picked up two wickets. However, Iqbal’s 51 and Alam’s 43 ensured there were no surprises, taking Sindh home. Iqbal’s innings included six hits to the fence, while Alam managed seven boundaries.

Earlier, resuming on 218 for three, the K-P second-innings folded for 331 with Shoaib Khan top-scoring with a fighting knock of 97. Sami, who claimed four wickets on the third day, added two more scalps and finished with impressive figures of six for 62.

Elsewhere, the match between Federal Areas and Punjab played at the Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad ended in a draw after only 26 overs were bowled on the final day.

Federal Areas declared at 259 for eight, setting Punjab a modest 257 to win. Opener Nasir Jamshed starred for Punjab with 41 but could not stop his team from being reduced to a precarious 77 for four when play was stopped. Left-armer Saad Altaf picked up three for 32 for Federal Areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd,  2012.