Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: Azam converts maiden first-class ton into double century

SBP strengthen stranglehold on HBL ahead of last day of Silver League final

KARACHI: Promising youngster Babar Azam did his growing reputation no harm by scoring a monumental 266 – his maiden first-class century – to help SBP roar back in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver League final against HBL.

Resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 251 for three, the 20-year-old Azam converted his maiden hundred into a double ton as the hapless HBL bowlers toiled hard on a flat Iqbal Stadium pitch in Faisalabad.

Azam had smashed a match-winning second-innings hundred against Australia in a four-day practice match staged in Sharjah before the two-match Test series in October.

SBP looked down and out after conceding a first innings lead of 194 runs. But Azam played an encouraging innings to give his team a more than realistic chance of dismissing HBL on the final day. Azam’s 266-run knock was compiled off 435 balls; the innings was studded with 29 fours and five towering sixes.

Amazingly, the next best score in SBP’s second innings was Maqbool Ahmed’s 48-ball-49.

Pakistan Test discard Abdur Rehman bowled 64.5 overs to return with figures of four for 222 runs. Fellow left-arm spinner Mohammad Aslam snared three wickets while conceding 182 runs in his 49 overs stint.

HBL already one down in chase

Set an imposing target of 334 runs, HBL had to deal with an early blow. Aftab Alam was sent packing by Kashif Bhatti for only seven runs. Regular opener and captain Imran Farhat did not open the innings. The Bankers closed their second innings at 30-1 on the fourth day, needing a further 304 runs to record an outright win.

"This match has been turned on its head by Azam's gutsiness and we now have a chance to achieve victory," SBP captain Usman Salahuddin told The Express Tribune.

"He took his chances brilliantly and now it's up to the bowlers to make sure they don't waste the opportunity to win this match."

The prospects for the final day are extremely intriguing. HBL can opt to bat out the day since a draw would give them the right to lift the trophy, courtesy of their first-innings lead.

SBP, on the other hand, have to roll over the opposition to win the tournament. The Iqbal Stadium pitch has turned out to be a batting friendly one after offering decent aid to bowlers on the first day.

The fifth day though is traditionally a difficult one for the team batting, hence SBP would be pinning their hopes on their talented bowling line-up.

 

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