Sialkot, Lahore Blues, Peshawar, Abbottabad advance in Quaid Trophy

LAHORE: Sialkot, Lahore Blues, Peshawar and Abbottabad emerged victorious in their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches at different venues across the country on Monday. On the fourth and final day of the second round, Sialkot defeated Quetta by 10 wickets at Multan Cricket Stadium.

Usama returned figures of 5 for and received good support from Awais Ali (3 for 54) as Quetta were dismissed for 212 in their second innings. Trailing by 176 runs on first innings, Quetta had resumed on Monday morning at 108 for three. Sialkot raced to the 37-run target in 5.5 overs without any loss of wicket. Muhammad Harira remained not out with 32 runs. This was Sialkot’s second successive victory.

Lahore Blues recorded their first win of the tournament when they overpowered Karachi Blues by four wickets. Chasing 206 for victory and starting the day at 42 for one Lahore Blues achieved victory in just over 70 overs for the loss of six wickets. No.3 batter Hammad Butt top-scored with a 140-ball 78 that included five fours and three sixes. Together with captain Imran Butt (39), he put on 82 runs for the third wicket.

Peshawar beat Bahawalpur by 181 runs in Abbottabad. Fast bowler Niaz Khan followed up his six for 97 with four for 39 to hand Peshawar their first win in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Chasing 344 runs for victory and starting the day at seven for one Bahawalpur were skittled out for 162 with only Mohammad Ammar offering some resistance while scoring 51. Mohammad Amir Khan lent good support to Niaz when he bagged three wickets for 45 runs for match figures of five wickets for 93 runs.

Abbottabad had the better of Faisalabad by 134 runs at National Ground in Islamabad. Faisalabad, resuming the last day at 69 for two in pursuit of 419 runs target, were dismissed for 285 with Abbottabad’s Israr Hussain causing maximum damage with figures of 6 wickets for 69 runs. Faisalabad’s second innings revolved around Muhammad Awais Zafar (61), Ali Shan (58 not out), Atiq-ur-Rehman (55) and Abdul Samad (53). This was Abbottabad’s first win and second successive loss for Faisalabad.

Brief sores:

Abbottabad beat Faisalabad by 134 runs, National Ground, Islamabad, Pool A Abbottabad 405 all-out, 100.2 overs (Khalid Usman 139 not out, Ahmed Khan 65, Mohammad Adil 62, Shujah Zaheer 56, Yasir Shah 26; Mohammad Faizan 3-68, Khurram Shahzad 3-98, Shehzad Gul 2-100) and 203-8d, 49.2 overs (Khayam Khan 96, Afaq Ahmed 68, Ahmed Khan 21; Ahmed Safi Abdullah 3-52, Shehzad Gul 3-58, Khurram Shahzad 2-31)

Faisalabad 189 all out, 59.3 overs (Ahmed Safi Abdullah 43 not out, Muhammad Awais Zafar 33, Mohammad Saleem 28, Ali Shan 26; Mohammad Adil 5-58, Ahmed Khan 2-20) and 285 all-out, 102 overs (Muhammad Awais Zafar 61, Ali Shan 58 not out, Atiq-ur-Rehman 55, Abdul Samad 53; Israr Hussain 6-69)

Peshawar beat Bahawalpur by 181 runs, Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad, Pool B Peshawar 301 all-out, 58.3 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 96, Waqar Ahmed 63, Mohammad Haris 34; Mehran Sanwal 4-106, Muhammad Imran 3-66, Ali Shabbir 2-48) and 321 all-out, 75.4 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 68, Maaz Sadaqat 65, Mehran Ibrahim 55, Nabi Gul 40, Mohammad Haris 32, Israrullah 22, Sajid Khan 21; Mehran Sanwal 4-75, Gulfam Aziz 3-60, Ali Shabbir 3-91).