Karachi, 14 December 2021: Test spinner Sajid Khan took six for 28 to bowl Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to a thumping 145 runs victory over Balochistan on the third day of the ninth round Quaid-e-Azam Trophy fixture at the UBL Sports Complex in Karachi.
Sajid, who was wicketless when Balochistan resumed their 281-run victory chase this morning at 38 for three, scooped six of the last seven wickets as Balochistan were spun out for 135. Only Shan Masood, who began at 10, batted with some degree of authority and confidence, scoring 70 before falling to Sajid. Shan’s 83-ball innings included 13 fours.
Sajid’s fellow Test spinner Nauman Ali was also on top of his game for Northern when he followed up his six for 104 with six for 92 to bowl his side to a comprehensive an innings and five runs victory over Southern Punjab.
Northern added 41 runs to their overnight score of 421 to be bowled out for 462 in reply to Southern Punjab’s 238 at the NBP Sports Complex. Southern Punjab, for the second time in the match, were at sea against Nauman as they crumbled to 219 all-out with only Muhammad Imran being the notable run-scorer with 91 from 103 balls with eight fours and six sixes.
At the State Bank Stadium, Sindh were eying victory against Central Punjab after the visitors finished the third day’s play at 55 for five after being set 307 runs victory target. Sohail Khan rocked Central Punjab’s second innings when he claimed three wickets with Rizwan Hussain still at the crease on 21 not out.
Earlier in the day, Sindh resumed their second innings at 147 for five and were all out for 338. Asad Shafiq missed his century by three runs when he was dismissed for a 179-ball 97 that included 14 fours and a six.
Sohail Khan chipped in with a valuable 73 with 10 fours and a six off 109 balls and added 63 runs for the seventh with Mohammad Hassan (49).
For Central Punjab, left-arm spinner Ahmed Safi Abdullah took four wickets for 58 runs, while Mohammad Saad took two for 47.
After Tuesday penultimate round results, Northern are on 127 points, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are on 124 points. Sindh, who are playing Central Punjab, are on 105 points whereas Central Punjab are on 103 points after first innings. While Northern, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Central Punjab remain in contention for places in the 25-29 December pink-ball final at the National Stadium, Southern Punjab and Balochistan are out of the final race following their 93 points and 77 points, respectively.
In the 10th and final round fixtures starting on 18 December, Balochistan will play Northern, Sindh will take on Southern Punjab and Central Punjab will go head to head with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Scores in brief (day 3 of 4)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Balochistan by 145 runs at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 116 all out, 41 overs (Kamran Ghulam 31, Sajid Khan 25 not out; Taj Wali 4-19, Kashif Bhatti 4-20) and 264 all out, 82.1 overs (Ashfaq Ahmed 73, Rehan Afridi 48, Mehran Ibrahim 40, Kamran Ghulam 37; Taj Wali 7-68)
Balochistan 100 all out, 26 overs (Ayaz Tasawar 22; Arshad Iqbal 4-31, Asif Afridi 2-8) and 135 all out, 34.3 overs (Shan Masood 70, Sajid Khan 6-28, Sameen Gul 2-48)
Total points – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 124; Balochistan 77 points
Northern beat Southern Punjab by an innings and five runs at the National Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi
Southern Punjab 238 all out, 69.5 overs (Salman Ali Agha 142; Nauman Ali 6-104; Mubasir Khan 2-34) and 219, 53.4 overs (Mohammad Imran 91, Tayyab Tahir 31, Mohammad Ilyas 28, Yousuf Babar 21, Ali Usman 21; Nauman 6-92, Kashif Ali 3-54)
Northern 462 all out, 114.2 (Faizan Riaz 168, Umar Amin 158; Ali Usman 4-141, Mohammad Ilyas 2-48, Naseem Shah 2-137)
Total points – Northern 127, Southern Punjab 93 points
Sindh vs Central Punjab - State Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi
Sindh 155-9d, 52 overs (Sohail Khan 65, Fawad Alam 32; Muhammad Ali 3-20, Muhammad Saad 3-24) and 338 all out, 105.3 overs (Asad Shafiq 97, Sohail Khan 73, Mohammad Hassan 49, Omair Bin Yousuf 32, Khurram Manzoor 23, Tabish Khan 23; Ahmed Safi Abdullah 4-58, Mohammad Saad 2-47)
Central Punjab 187-9d, 58.5 overs (Abid Ali 98, Muhammad Saad 49; Abrar Ahmed 3-37, Tabish Khan 3-46, Sohail Khan 2-50) and 55-5, 15 overs (Rizwan Hussain 21 not out, Sohail Khan 3-13)
Total points (after first innings) – Sindh 105, Central Punjab 103
