Balochistan thrashed by Punjab on day 3

K-P fight back against Federal Areas in Pentangular Cup

Punjab completed a thumping innings-and-73-run win over Balochistan on day three of their third-round Pentangular Cup clash in Lahore yesterday, according to information provided by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Needing 333 to make Punjab bat again, Balochistan, resuming on 10 for one, were bundled out for 260 after a poor first-innings that saw them dismissed for just 107. Bismillah Khan top-scored with a fighting 75 in which he hit 14 boundaries. Gulraiz Sadaf was the other significant contributor with an unbeaten 64, which included eight hits to the fence and a six.

Mohammad Khalil claimed three for 64 to end with eight wickets in the match. Prince Abbas supported him with two for 41.

Hameed leads K-P fightback

Elsewhere, Federal Areas were in a strong position against Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) despite a fightback by the hosts.

Resuming on 453 for seven, Federal Areas were bowled out for 477, taking a first-innings lead of 272. K-P then ended the day on 327 for six, with a lead of 55 over Federal Areas.

Yasir Hameed scored an even century with the help of 13 boundaries, while Israrullah added a rapid 60. Shoaib Khan stroked his way to 79, while Zulfiqar Jan was unbeaten on 45. Rao Iftikhar and Hammad Azam took two wickets each for Federal Areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2012.