Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: Silver league semis pan out in stark contrast

17 wickets fall in one match on day one, only four in the other

KARACHI: Bowlers found a lot of joy in the Quaid-e-Azam Silver league semi-final between PIA and State Bank at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot as 17 wickets fell on day one.

Batting first, PIA were bundled out for just 120, as Rizwan Haider took six and Zahoor Khan claimed the other four as only three bowlers were used by State Bank. It was a poor outing for PIA’s batsmen as Shoaib Khan Senior was the only batsman to make more than 20 runs with his knock of 22.

However, in reply, State Bank fared little better as they had lost seven wickets for just 113 by stumps. Naved Yasin, on 32, and Aamer Yamin, on 15, were at the crease after adding 29 runs for the eighth-wicket partnership after slumping to 84-7.

Najaf Shah and Ali Imran took two wickets apiece, while Anwar Ali took three for the top side from Group I.

The batsmen gave a much better account of themselves in the other semi-final as Habib Bank ended day one on 241-4 at the Mirpur Stadium in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Rameez Aziz’s unbeaten 120 made a mockery of SSGC’s decision to field first. The four wickets were shared between four bowlers, with Muhammad Irfan’s figures of 1-29 being the pick of the lot.

The four sides are battling for a single spot as only the departmental team that wins the final will go through to the Gold league, with the Hyderabad Hawks already promoted courtesy of being the regional team with the highest points.

 

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