Pakistan

Quaid Trophy: Farhat celebrates Pakistan Test recall with smashing ton

Left-hander’s 133 helps Ravi gain stronghold over Peshawar.

Nabeel Hashmi January 31, 2013

Farhat’s century yesterday came only a day after he earned his recall to the Pakistan Test side for the series against South Africa. PHOTO: FILE AFP

KARACHI: Imran Farhat celebrated his recall to the Pakistan Test side by hitting an unbeaten century to put hosts Lahore Ravi in a strong position against Peshawar on day one of their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy round six match at the LCCA Ground yesterday.

After being put in to bat first by Peshawar, Ravi ended the day at 254 for three with their batting revolving around Farhat’s 133-run knock in which he smashed 21 boundaries.

Farhat, who faced 230 balls, was involved in a 145-run opening stand with Abid Ali (63) and did justice to his recall which came after an injury to Taufeeq Umar, who has been advised a month’s rest.

Babar takes 7 for Multan

In another match, left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar continued to dazzle in domestic cricket as he claimed a seven-wicket haul to help Multan bowl out Sialkot for 189.

Hafiz Majid stood out with a defiant 105 off 214 balls with 11 fours but ran out of partners as Sialkot failed to handle Babar, who gave away 67 runs. The 34-year-old was recently picked for the tour of India but did not feature; however, he remained confident of making his international debut.

Elsewhere, Azam Hussain’s five-for was overshadowed by a 102-run eighth-wicket stand between Zohaib Ahmed (57) and Naeem Anjum (56), which resurrected Islamabad to 188 for eight after being reduced to 73 for seven at one stage at the Diamond Ground.

Cheema helps Shalimar to first-innings lead

Meanwhile, Lahore Shalimar took a 48-run first-innings lead against Hyderabad, courtesy of a five-wicket haul from pacer Aizaz Cheema at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Shalimar ended the day’s proceedings at 151 for three in reply to Hyderabad’s paltry 103.

Imran Butt made 59 while Umar Akmal was not out on three. Earlier Cheema and Wahab Riaz, who claimed three wickets, ripped apart Hyderabad.

Elsewhere, Umer Amin’s 124-run knock propelled Rawalpindi to 334 for five against Bahawalpur while half-centuries from Daniyal Ahsan (90) and Khalid Latif (83) helped Karachi Blues to 297 all out against Faisalabad. Asad Ali was the star performer with seven wickets.

Faisalabad were 13 for one at the close of play.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2013.