Karachi Blues on verge of third win in tournament

Incident-marred day sees Faislabad struggle in Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.

Faisalabad were staring at defeat against Karachi Blues in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy after struggling to 195 for seven on a incident-marred day at the National Stadium. Trailing by 72 in the first-innings, Faisalabad owed their total to Qaiser Iqbal who was the lone batsman offering any resistance as he made 74.

Ahmed shines for  Rawalpindi

Waqas Ahmed took three for 25 as Rawalpindi responded to Sialkot’s first-innings score of 209 by managing 86 for five on the third day at the Jinnah Stadium. Earlier, Sialkot recovered from 89 for five to reach 209 with Shahzad Malik making 46 and Rizwan Akbar claiming five for 53.

No action in Multan

Multan and Islamabad players were deprived of action as there was no third day’s play at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Multan made 244 in the first-innings before Islamabad replied with 189 for six.

HBL-SNGPL players sit idle

Only 10 overs were possible in the match between HBL and SNGPL as bad light hampered play at the Gaddafi Stadium. HBL were reduced to 36 for three after they resumed at 19 for no loss.

Weather disrupts play

PIA and NBP were again made to sit in the pavilion as Lahore witnessed bad light disrupting play again on the third day. While PIA are placed fifth with 48 points and still have a match remaining against Karachi Blues, NBP are sixth with 45.

Match heads for draw

In another match hampered by weather, Wapda and ZTBL players sat idle at the Iqbal Stadium. Wapda have 369 runs on the board before
they declared and ZTBL were 34 for one.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2011.