Quaid Trophy: Jahangir, Dogar resist Blues after early setback

Sialkot reach 139 for four at stumps on rain-curtailed opening day of final .

KARACHI: Opening batsman Majid Jahangir and Ayub Dogar led Sialkot’s fightback on the opening day of their five-day final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy against Karachi Blues yesterday at the Gaddafi Stadium.

After three days of rain in Lahore, the opening day of the epic battle saw a delayed start with only 52.3 overs bowled.

Blues dominated the first session after a threatening spell from fast bowler Anwar Ali, who left Sialkot struggling at 54 for three. But Jehangir and Dogar came to the rescue of Sialkot, who are playing the final without their regular captain Shoaib Malik – on national duty for the limited-overs series against South Africa.

Both added a much-needed 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket before the opener was trapped lbw by Abrarur Rehman after scoring an impressive 54.Dogar (49*) remained unbeaten as Sialkot wrapped up the day’s proceedings at 139 for four at stumps.

Imranullah stuns Faisalabad with five-for

Bahalwapur’s Imranullah took a five-wicket haul to demolish Faisalabad for 273 on the opening day of the final of the bottom six teams of the tournament in Multan.



Besides Imranullah, Ataullah claimed two while Kamran Hussain and Ansar Javed grabbed a wicket each to bowl out their opponents.  Mohammad Salman (69) was the top scorer for Faisalabad while Ali Waqas chipped in with 41 valuable runs.

However, Bahawalpur received a double blow when Samiullah Niazi removed Rafay Ahmed and Ahmed Ali in his first over before the day was called off with the side in clutters at naught for the loss of two wickets.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2013.