Lahore, 5 November 2021: ATF Southern Punjab were eyeing their first victory in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy after they forced Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to follow-on during the third day’s play at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Friday.
Replying to Southern Punjab’s 453 all out and resuming the day at 207 for seven, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were bowled out for 297 in 88.3 overs with Nabi Gul returning undefeated on 148 (18x4, 3x6, 255b) after starting at 108.
The remaining three Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wickets were shared between Zia-ul-Haq and Mohammad Ilyas, who finished with three for 77 and two for 54, respectively with Ali Usman ending up as the pick of bowlers with five for 88.
Forced to follow-on after trailing by 156 runs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ended the day at 115 for three with Nabi Gul already back in the hut. However, Sahibzada Farhan was at the crease at 65 after he scored 59 in the first innings.
With Sahibzada was Adil Amin on 35 as the two batters have put up 97 runs for the unfinished fourth wicket after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had slipped to 18 for three.
At the Gaddafi Stadium, Abid Ali struck his 23rd first-class century as Discover Pakistan Central Punjab’s match against Balochistan headed for a draw.
Abid resumed the day at 12 not out in Central Punjab’s 37 for one and was still at the crease on 139 not out with his side reaching 281 for two in reply for Balochistan’s 472 for eight declared. Abid Ali has faced 243 balls and struck 17 fours and six.
Together with Azhar Ali (73, 177b, 7x4), Abid Ali added 169 runs for the second wicket, while his unbroken third wicket partnership with Mohammad Saad (45 not out, 6x4, 73b) has already produced 83 runs as their side are still 191 runs behind Balochistan.
At Multan Cricket Stadium, GFS Sindh had reached 403 for seven against Northern’s 374. Saad Khan, who started the day at 88 in his side’s 133 for three, was out after scoring 123 from 192 balls with 13 fours.
Saad put on 59 runs for the fourth wicket with Asad Shafiq (82, 12x4, 124b), who added 102 runs for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Suleman (67, 8x4, 166b). Suleman was involved in another 102-run seventh wicket stand with Mohammad Hasan, who was still at the crease on a well-played 95-ball 73 with 10 fours.
For Northern, Test spinner Nauman Ali took three for 121, while Aamir Jamal picked up two for 55.
Scores in brief (day 3 of 4, round 3):
At Multan Cricket Stadium
Northern 374, 108 overs (Mohammad Huraira 112, Aamir Jamal 55, Rohail Nazir 54, Nauman Ali 51, Faizan Riaz 46; Mir Hamza 4-65, Tabish Khan 2-82, Mohammad Asghar 2-85, Sohail Khan 2-90)
GFS Sindh 403-7, 124 overs (Saad Khan 123, Asad Shafiq 82, Mohammad Hasan 73 not out, Mohammad Suleman 67, Khurram Manzoor 40; Nauman Ali 3-121, Aamir Jamal 2-55)
At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Balochistan 472-8d, 131.5 overs (Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 203 not out, Jalat Khan 91, Imam-ul-Haq 72, Bismillah Khan 48, Haris Sohail 29; Ahmed Bashir 2-50, Zafar Gohar 2-92, Bilal Asif 2-117)
Discover Pakistan Central Punjab 281-2, 86 overs (Abid Ali 139 not out, Azhar Ali 73, Mohammad Saad 45 not out)
At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
ATF Southern Punjab 453 all out, 94.5 overs (Muhammad Imran 179, Azam Khan 103, Hassan Khan 54, Tayyab Tahir 52; Niaz Khan 3-62, Sameen Gul 3-82, Sajid Khan 3-120)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 297 all out, 88.3 overs (Nabi Gul 148 not out, Sahibzada Farhan 59, Niaz Khan 41, Sajid Khan 20; Ali Usman 5-88, Zia Ul Haq 3-77, Mohammad Ilyas 2-54) and 115-3, 43 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 65 not out, Adil Amin 35 not out; Mohammad Ilyas 2-25)
