Malik hits ton against Faisalabad

PIA in strong position in Quaid-i-Azam Trophy after Malik's 112 against Faisalabad.

Shoaib Malik gave the selectors a reminder on what they are missing on as he hit an unbeaten 112 to lead PIA to 259 for four on the first day of their four-day Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match against Faisalabad at the Iqbal Stadium.

Former Pakistan captain Malik hit his ninth first-class hundred in his 96th match and was well supported by Agha Sabir who made 61. Zeeshan Asif took two for 29.

Fawad rescues NBP

Fawad Alam hit an unbeaten 53 as NBP reached 251 for five on the first day against hosts Karachi Blues at the National Stadium in Karachi. Alam, not selected for the Test series against South Africa, hit six fours in his 99-ball knock and was supported by Naumanullah who made 54.

Sialkot lose six wickets

In an almost identical situation, hosts Sialkot managed 251 for six against HBL with Shahzad Malik hitting an unbeaten 69 off 112 deliveries on the first day at the Jinnah Stadium. Aslam Qureshi took three for 93.

SNGPL bundled out

Rawalpindi bowlers Rizwan Akbar and Nasir Malik took three wickets each as SNGPL were bundled out for 224 at the Pindi Stadium on the opening day. Azhar Shafique made 68 and Imran Khalid contributed 41 to take their team to a respectable total.

ZTBL on top

Mohammad Khalil and Sohail Tanvir were the stars as ZTBL dismissed Islamabad for 251 on the first day at the Diamond Ground. Khalil took four for 107 and Tanvir claimed three for 48 before ZTBL reached 18 for one.

Multan humbled

Wapda embarrassed Multan on the first day at the Bahawalpur Stadium as they first bowled them out for a paltry 111 before scoring 151 for five. The departmental side took a 40-run lead on just the opening day owed largely to a superb bowling performance by Sarfraz Ahmed and Rana Navedul Hasan who shared six wickets between them during the match.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2010.