Copyright pakobserver
Sialkot’s Azan Awais, Peshawar’s Iftikhar Ahmed and Islamabad’s Sarmad Bhatti hit centuries, while Lahore Whites’ Mohammad Abbas and Bahawalpur’s Mohammad Azab took five-fors on the opening day of the fifth round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on Thursday. Azan Awais’ eighth first-class century and his 116-run second-wicket stand with Abdullah Shafique (62) took Sialkot to 322-4 in 83.2 overs against Abbottabad at the Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad. Left-handed Azan scored 123 off 194 balls, inclusive of 13 fours, while Abdullah’s 12th half-century came with the help of nine fours and one six. Mohsin Riaz (48 not out) and Afzaal Manzoor (37 not out) finished the day with an unbeaten 66-run stand. Peshawar’s Iftikhar Ahmed struck his 16th first-class century to help his team post 320 all out in 84.1 overs against Faisalabad at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. Iftikhar, who scored 131 off 204 balls, hitting 19 fours and one six, was joined by Mohammad Haris (88) with Peshawar reeling at 29-4 following Test fast bowler Khurram Shahzad’s two early strikes and a scalp each for Afaq Afridi and Jahandad Khan. The duo put on 199 runs for the fifth wicket to lift Peshawar out of dire straits. Haris registered his sixth first-class century. Niaz Khan (34) and Najab Khan (21) made sure their team crossed the 300-run mark after slipping from 228-4 to 292-8. For Faisalabad, Khurram returned figures of 20-2-90-3, while Jahandad, Ahmed Safi Abdullah and Hasan Raza picked up two wickets each. Lahore Whites’ Mohammad Abbas picked up his 51st and second successive first-class five-for to help his team bundle out Multan for 164 in 43.4 overs at the Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad. Multan were reduced to 70-6 before Arafat Minhas (45) and Bismillah Khan (32) put on 56 runs for the seventh wicket to help their team cross the 150-run mark. In turn, Lahore were 121-4 in 32 overs at stumps with Ali Zaryab (51) and Qasim Akram (25) unbeaten at the crease. An unbeaten 215-run fifth-wicket stand between Sarmad Bhatti (107 not out) and skipper Rohail Nazir (96 not out) led Islamabad to 326-4 in 78 overs against FATA at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. Sarmad struck his 12th first-class century and third in the tournament, while Rohail will look to complete his sixth first-class century on day two. Bahawalpur found themselves in trouble against Karachi Blues at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar, as they closed the day with 55-5 in 18 overs, trailing by 162 runs. Karachi Blues’ Mohammad Hamza picked up two wickets, while Muhammad Umar and Saqib Khan picked up one wicket each. Earlier, Bahawalpur’s Mohammad Azab returned figures of 15-0-70-5 registering his fifth first-class five-wicket haul and second in the tournament as Karachi Blues slipped from 130-1 to 217 all out in 56.3 overs, losing nine wickets for 87 runs. Saad Baig (73) and Omair Bin Yousuf (70) stitched a 125-run second-wicket stand following Abdullah Fazal’s early departure. Saqib Khan struck a 33-ball 40, hitting five fours and one six, while no other batter got into double figures.
