Pentangular Cup: Sajjad’s double ton puts Punjab on top
Sindh trail by 460 runs in Pentangular Cup final.
KARACHI:
Being kept out of the playing-eleven for the whole event did not matter to Aamer Sajjad as he stroked a double century for Punjab on the second day of the Faysal Bank Pentangular Cup final against Sindh.
Sajjad scored a mammoth 252 in Punjab’s run-fest that saw them put together a huge total of 496 all out before Sindh were reduced to 36 for four at stumps. Sajjad displayed great composure in his 462-ball innings and hit 32 boundaries. He found admirable support from tail-ender Raza Hasan (36) as the two put on a 72-run eighth-wicket partnership that saw him complete his double century.
Stand-in captain Danish Kaneria bagged a six-wicket haul for Sindh, while left-arm spinner Faraz Ahmed dismissed two batsmen.
In reply, the visitors were in dire straits, still 460 runs adrift, with Mohammad Khalil being the destroyer-in-chief claiming three wickets.
Sajjad hopes for national call-up
Meanwhile, Sajjad was ecstatic at scoring an important knock in his maiden appearance at this year’s event.
“I wasn’t part of the squad initially and was among the reserves,” Sajjad told The Express Tribune. “To score such an innings in the only opportunity you get is exhilarating. The feeling can’t be described.”
The 31-year-old’s innings was witnessed by chief selector Mohammad Ilyas and Azhar Khan, who is also part of the national selection committee, giving the batsman hope of a call-up for national duty.
“The Pentangular Cup final is one of the most important matches of the domestic season so it can’t get much bigger than this. I’m hopeful of a national call-up after this show. Miracles do happen and I haven’t given up hope of donning national colours.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2012.
Being kept out of the playing-eleven for the whole event did not matter to Aamer Sajjad as he stroked a double century for Punjab on the second day of the Faysal Bank Pentangular Cup final against Sindh.
Sajjad scored a mammoth 252 in Punjab’s run-fest that saw them put together a huge total of 496 all out before Sindh were reduced to 36 for four at stumps. Sajjad displayed great composure in his 462-ball innings and hit 32 boundaries. He found admirable support from tail-ender Raza Hasan (36) as the two put on a 72-run eighth-wicket partnership that saw him complete his double century.
Stand-in captain Danish Kaneria bagged a six-wicket haul for Sindh, while left-arm spinner Faraz Ahmed dismissed two batsmen.
In reply, the visitors were in dire straits, still 460 runs adrift, with Mohammad Khalil being the destroyer-in-chief claiming three wickets.
Sajjad hopes for national call-up
Meanwhile, Sajjad was ecstatic at scoring an important knock in his maiden appearance at this year’s event.
“I wasn’t part of the squad initially and was among the reserves,” Sajjad told The Express Tribune. “To score such an innings in the only opportunity you get is exhilarating. The feeling can’t be described.”
The 31-year-old’s innings was witnessed by chief selector Mohammad Ilyas and Azhar Khan, who is also part of the national selection committee, giving the batsman hope of a call-up for national duty.
“The Pentangular Cup final is one of the most important matches of the domestic season so it can’t get much bigger than this. I’m hopeful of a national call-up after this show. Miracles do happen and I haven’t given up hope of donning national colours.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2012.