Cricket: Port Qasim inch closer to promotion

Sami takes four on 2nd day, lead by 126.

KARACHI: Port Qasim Authority (PQA) inched closer to the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II title and promotion to the top division after earning a 70-run first-inning lead against KESC on day two of their four-day final in Faisalabad yesterday.

KESC resumed the day on 13 for no loss in reply to PQA’s 343 and moved to 100 for one before inexperience with the bat proved to be its downfall. Saad Ali top-scored with 64 off 107 balls hitting three fours but KESC, in the face of some hostile bowling by Test discard Mohammad Sami, were bundled out for 263. Ahsan was the other notable contributor for the batting side, hitting an 88-ball 55 as Sami picked up four for 47.

PQA, following a commendable show with the ball, finished on 56 for two at stumps, stretching their lead to 126.

Meanwhile, KESC coach Zafar Ahmed admitted his side wasted a perfect opportunity to stake their claims in the final.

“We had an excellent start on a batting-friendly pitch but our senior players let us down,” Ahmed told The Express Tribune. “We were bowled out with 11 overs remaining of our allowance and we could’ve taken a first-innings lead. Despite being a star-studded side, our opponents were afraid of us as they had spread the field even for the tail-enders.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2012.