Sports Bulletin

SB Report QUETTA:-The fifth-round match in the first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ended in a draw at Quetta’s Bugti Stadium. Chasing a victory target of 306, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were 220 for five in 45 overs when stumps were drawn for the fourth and final day. After losing their captain Sahibzada Farhan (22) with 48 runs on the board, Israrullah and Ashfaq Ahmed hit aggressive half-centuries which helped Khyber Pakhtunkhwa maintain a healthy run-rate of over 4.5 runs. Israrullah cracked a run-a-ball 85 before getting dismissed by Yasir Shah. His knock included 13 fours and a six. This was his second half-century of the match. Ashfaq, from the other end, scored 51 runs off 64 balls, hitting seven fours. Yasir, the Pakistan leg-spinner, followed his four wickets in the first innings with the figures of two for 62, while Taj Wali and Akif Javed took a wicket apiece. The highlight of the earlier part of the day was the five-wicket haul of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Sajid Khan. The off-spinner returned the figures of five for 36 in 12 overs. This was his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. Scores in brief: Balochistan 553-8 declared, 145.4 overs (Imran Butt 214, Imran Farhat 134, Bismillah Khan 75, Awais Zia 69; Sajid Khan 3-126, Imran Khan Sr. 2-87) and 158-8 declared, 43 overs (Imran Butt 29, Awais Zia 27, Imran Farhat 25 not out; Sajid Shah 5-36). Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 406 all-out, 103.3 overs (Adil Amin 109, Sahibzada Farhan 86, Israrullah 77, Khalid Usman 56, Zohaib Khan 37; Yasir Shah 4-111, Mohammad Asghar 4-107) and 220-5, 45 overs (Israrullah 85, Ashfaq Ahmed 51, Zohaib Khan 32 not out, Sahibzada Farhan 22; Yasir Shah 2-62). Result: Match drawn

SB Report LAHORE:-Opener Abdullah Shafiq struck a blazing double century for Central Punjab as all three matches of the sixth round of three-day non-first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2nd XI tournament ended in draws on Wednesday. At NBP Stadium in Karachi, Southern Punjab resumed their second innings at 36 for no loss. They managed to score 319 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 85 overs when the match was declared a draw. Opener Mukhtar Ahmed top-scored with a 151-ball 94 that included eight fours and two sixes. Agha Salman scored 61 while Mohammad Mohsin made 54 runs. Jalat Khan took three wickets for 77 runs for Balochistan. At the UBL Sports Complex in Karachi, the match between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh ended in a draw. Resuming their second innings 23 for no loss, Sindh were bowled out for 194 runs in 74.5 overs. Jahid Ali top-scored with a 160 ball 68 that included 11 fours. Ammad Alam made 33 runs. Asif Afridi took three while Asad Afridi and Mehran Ibrahim took two wickets each. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were set a 190-run target late in the day but ran out of time to chase the score, when the match was called-off they had scored 10 runs for the loss of one wicket in two overs.  At LRCA Itefaq Ground, Northern and Central Punjab also played out a draw. Resuming their first innings at the overnight score of 344 for six, Northern were bowled out for 362 runs in 81 overs. Waqas Maqsood took four while Ahmed Saifi took three wickets. Central Punjab opener Abdullah Shafiq produced a batting master class in the second innings, he remained unbeaten on a run-a-ball 205 that included 19 fours and eight sixes. Abdullah added 167 runs for the first wicket with M. Ikhlaq who scored 73 runs. The match was called-off with Central Punjab placed at a formidable 331 for one in 69 overs. Abdullah added 164 runs for the unfinished second wicket partnership with Ali Zaryab (42 not out). Scores in brief: Southern Punjab v Balochistan, NBP Stadium, Karachi Southern Punjab 363-6, 83 overs (Zain Abbas 116, Naveed Yasin 108, Zeeshan Ashraf 70; Ibtisam Shaikh 2-77, Jalat Khan 2-122) and 319-7, 85 overs (Mukhtar Ahmed 94, Agha Salman 61, Mohammad Mohsin 54; Jalat Khan 3-77) Balochistan 345-9, 83 overs ( Akbar-ur-Rehman 142, Fahad Iqbal 59; Zia ul Haq 4-79, Zulfiqar Babar 3-96) Result: Match drawn Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Sindh, UBL Sports Complex, Karachi  Sindh 278 all-out, 77.1 overs (Ammad Alam 144; Asif Afridi 4-96, Ahmed Jamal 2-39) and 194 all-out, 74.5 overs (Jahid Ali 68, Ammad Alam 33; Asif Afridi 3-67, Asad Afridi 2-39,Mehran Ibrahim 2-7) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 283 all-out, 82 overs (Mohammad Mohsin Khan 73, Kamran Ghulam 62, Samiullah 60; Hassan Khan 5-106, Adeel Malik 3-69) and 10-1, 2 overs Result: Match drawn   Central Punjab v Northern, LRCA Itefaq Ground Central Punjab 400-8, 83 overs (Mohammad Saad 132, Irfan Niazi 85, Saad Nasim 66, Muhammad Ikhlaq 53; Usama Mir 4-111) and 331-1, 69 overs ( Abdullah Shafiq 205 not-out, Mohammad Ikhlaq 73, Ali Zaryab 42 not-out) Northern 362 all-out, 81 overs ( Naveed Malik 143, Afaq Rahim 66, Sarmad Bhatti 50; Waqas Maqsood 4-77, Ahmed Safi 3-100, Saad Nasim 2-61) Result: Match drawn

SB Report  LAHORE:-Balochistan captain Akbar-ur-Rehman and Northern Naveed Malik scored centuries while Sindh’s Hassan Khan collected a five-wicket haul on day two of the sixth round of three-day non-first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2nd XI tournament on Tuesday. At NBP Stadium in Karachi, Akbar-ur-Rehman’s 194-ball 142 helped Balochistan reach 345 for nine in their 83 overs in reply to Southern Punjab’s first innings 363 for six total. Besides Akbar, Fahad Iqbal with 59 runs contributed significantly to Balochistan’s total. Zia-ul-Haq took four while Zulfiqar Babar took three wickets. Southern Punjab managed a 20-run first innings lead. They ended day two at 36 for no loss in their second innings after nine overs of play. At the UBL Sports Complex in Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa managed a slender five-run first innings lead as they were bowled out for 283 runs in reply to Sindh’s first innings score of 278 all out. Mohammad Mohsin Khan top-scored with a 134-ball 73, Kamran Ghulam with 62 and opener Samiullah with 60 were the other major contributors. Left-arm-spinner Hassan Khan took five wickets for 106 runs while pacer Adeel Malik took three for 69.  In return, Sindh in their second innings were 23 for no loss in four overs when stumps were drawn. At LRCA Itefaq Ground, Northern scored 344 for six in 77 overs in reply to Central Punjab’s first innings score of 400 for eight. Naveed Malik was the batting star for Northern on day two, the opener scored 143 with the help of 11 fours and three sixes. Afaq Rahim scored 66 and Sarmad Bhatti made 50 runs. Ahmed Safi took three and Saad Nasim took two wickets. Scores in brief: Southern Punjab v Balochistan, NBP Stadium, Karachi Southern Punjab 363-6, 83 overs (Zain Abbas 116, Naveed Yasin 108, Zeeshan Ashraf 70; Ibtisam Shaikh 2-77, Jalat Khan 2-122) and 36-0, nine overs Balochistan 345-9, 83 overs ( Akbar-ur-Rehman 142, Fahad Iqbal 59; Zia ul Haq 4-79, Zulfiqar Babar 3-96) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Sindh, UBL Sports Complex, Karachi  Sindh 278 all-out, 77.1 overs (Ammad Alam 144; Asif Afridi 4-96, Ahmed Jamal 2-39) and 23-0, four overs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 283 all-out, 82 overs (Mohammad Mohsin Khan 73, Kamran Ghulam 62, Samiullah 60; Hassan Khan 5-106, Adeel Malik 3-69)   Central Punjab v Northern, LRCA Itefaq Ground Central Punjab 400-8, 83 overs (Mohammad Saad 132, Irfan Niazi 85, Saad Nasim 66, Muhammad Ikhlaq 53; Usama Mir 4-111) Northern 344-6, 77 overs ( Naveed Malik 143, Afaq Rahim 66, Sarmad Bhatti 50; Ahmed Safi 3-100, Saad Nasim 2-61)

SB Report   Quetta:- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gave Balochistan a spirited reply on the second day of the fifth-round first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy fixture at Quetta’s Bugti Stadium. In response to the home team’s 553-8 declared in 145.4 overs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were 150 for no loss in 34 overs at the close of play as captain Sahibzada Farhan and Israrullah batted on 72 and Israrullah on 71. Farhan, to date, has cracked 10 boundaries in 102 deliveries, while Israrullah’s unbeaten 103-ball knock is laced with 10 fours and a six. Earlier, Balochistan, 341 for three overnight, rode on an excellent double-century by Imran Butt to amass a huge score. The 23-year-old hit a career-best 214 after resuming the day at his overnight score of 135 not out. The right-handed batsman stayed at the crease for 522 minutes and cracked 18 fours and three sixes in 387 balls. Balochistan captain Imran Farhat was the first batsman out on Tuesday after adding another 20 runs to his overnight score of 114. The left-hander hit 17 fours and a six in 219 balls. The two Imrans shared a mammoth partnership of 256 runs for the fourth-wicket. Wicketkeeper-batsman Bismillah Khan also had a noticeable outing with the bat, scoring 75 runs with the help of nine fours and two sixes. Off-spinner Sajid Khan was the most successful Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bowler, claiming three wickets for 126 runs. Imran Khan Sr. took two for 87, while Usman Shinwari and Junaid Khan took a wicket apiece.   Balochistan bagged maximum batting points (5) for crossing the 400-run mark in 110 overs of their first innings. For taking four wickets by that mark, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could manage only one point. Scores in brief: Balochistan 553-8 declared, 145.4 overs (Imran Butt 214, Imran Farhat 134, Bismillah Khan 75, Awais Zia 69; Sajid Khan 3-126, Imran Khan Sr. 2-87). Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 150-0, 34 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 72 not out, Israrullah 71 not out). 

SB Report  LAHORE:-Unbeaten half-centuries by Fawad Alam and Saad Ali had Sindh at 196 for four in 57.5 overs when stumps were drawn on day two of their four-day first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy fixture against Central Punjab at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium. Sindh had lost four wickets for 72 runs thanks to young fast-bowler Naseem Shah, who accounted for the wickets of Khurram Manzoor (10), Abid Ali (three) and Omair Bin Yousaf (33). Faheem Ashraf was the other bowler to take a wicket as he removed Asad Shafiq, who managed only five runs from his 18-ball stay at the crease. With the pressure mounting on the visitors, Fawad and Saad knitted an unbeaten 124-run stand for the fifth-wicket which put Sindh’s innings back on track. Fawad, to date, had scored 78 runs from 133 balls with 10 fours, while Saad made 60 off 119 with eight fours. Earlier, Central Punjab were 313 all-out in 95.5 overs as they added only 50 runs to their overnight score. On Tuesday morning, Faheem led the charge with the bat for the hosts. Resuming his innings at 22, the all-rounder scored 52 not out from 63 balls, cracking seven fours and a six. His overnight partner, Ehsan Adil, added 14 more runs to his score of nine. With three wickets for 99 runs, Kashif Bhatti was the pick of the bowlers for Sindh, while pacers Sohail Khan, Mir Hamza and Tabish Khan took two wickets each.   Both teams bagged three points each as Sindh took nine or more wickets and Central Punjab crossed the 300-run mark in the 110-over cut-off. The third day’s play at Iqbal Stadium will resume at 10.00am on Wednesday. Scores in brief:  Central Punjab 313 all-out, 95.5 overs (Kamran Akmal 90, Ahmed Shehzad 60, Faheem Ashraf 52, Usman Salahuddin 38, Ehsan Adil 25; Kashif Bhatti 3-99, Mir Hamza 2-46, Sohail Khan 2-72, Tabish Khan 2-80) Sindh 196-4, 57.5 overs (Fawad Alam 78, Saad Ali 60, Omair Bin Yousaf 33; Naseem Shah 3-55)

SB Report  LAHORE:-Leaders Central Punjab had reached 263 for seven on Day One of the four-day first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy fixture against Sindh after half-centuries by wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal and opener Ahmed Shehzad. Kamran became one of the two victims of left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti after scoring 90, while Ahmed scored 60 before perishing to Mir Hamza, who also claimed two wickets on a day when Central Punjab maintained a decent run-rate of just over three runs per over. With the 110-over cut-off for collecting bonus points just 20 overs away, both the sides will be aiming to make the most of the morning session on Tuesday. As of now, both teams have managed two points apiece – Central Punjab for reaching the 250-run milestone and Sindh for scooping more than six wickets. Central Punjab’s next targets will be 300 runs, which will earn him third points, followed up 350 runs (which will earn them four points), and finally 400 runs (which will earn them a maximum of five points), whereas a couple of more wickets will secure Sindh three maximum bowling points. Sindh, opting to bowl first without contesting the toss, justified their decision when they reduced Central Punjab to 38 for three that included the scalps of Salman Butt (16), Azhar Ali (one) and Umer Akmal (13). Tabish Khan caused the initial damage, claiming two wickets before Ahmed Shehzad switched up an 86-run fourth-wicket partnership with Usman Salahuddin (38) to repair the damage. Kamran Akmal then put on 66 runs for the sixth-wicket with Zafar Gohar (12) before both the batsmen returned to the hut in a space of three runs. Ahmed’s 134-ball innings included eight fours, while Kamran was as aggressive and attacking as always while clubbing 13 fours and two sixes in a 99-ball knock. Usman hit three fours in a 133-ball outing. Faheem Ashraf will lead Central Punjab’s charge on Tuesday for additional points when he resumes his innings at 22 from 30 balls. With him will be Ehsan Adil (nine). Scores in brief: Central Punjab 263-7, 85 overs (Kamran Akmal 90, Ahmed Shehzad 60, Usman Salahuddin 38, Faheem Ashraf 22 not out; Mir Hamza 2-46, Tabish Khan 2-61, Kashif Bhatti 2-98) v Sindh

SB Report  QUETTA:-Imran Butt and Imran Farhat scored unbeaten centuries as Balochistan posted 341 for three on the board in 90 overs on Day One against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in their four-day first-class Quaid-e-Azam fifth-round fixture at Quetta’s Bugti Stadium. Butt was batting on 135 and Farhat on 114 when stumps were drawn. The pair, to date, added 227 runs for the unbroken fourth-wicket partnership. The hosts stuttered early on and lost Azeem Ghumman (eight) with 27 runs on board after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa captain Sahibzada Farhan opted to bowl without contesting the toss. But, the right-handed Butt batted with authority throughout his innings. He crafted a useful second-wicket stand of 85 runs with opener Awais Zia, who scored 69 off 74 balls with 10 fours and a six. Butt, then went on to record his seventh first-class century. He has so far cracked 12 fours and two sixes in his 258-ball knock. From the other end, the 37-year-old Farhat completed his 36th first-class century. He struck 13 fours and a six during his 190-ball stay at the crease. For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Usman Shinwari and Imran Khan Sr. claimed a wicket apiece for 39 and 59 runs, respectively. Scores in brief:  Balochistan 341-3, 90 overs (Imran Butt 135 not out, Imran Farhat 114 not out, Awais Zia 69) vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Abdullah Asjad ISLAMABAD:-Domestic red-ball cricket resumes on Monday, 28 October, when the fifth-round action of the four-day first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy commences at three centres. To provide context to domestic cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had split the country’s premier event into two phases to create a window for the National T20 Cup ahead of the Pakistan national men’s team’s tour of Australia, which gets underway in Sydney on Sunday with first of the three T20Is. With Pakistan scheduled to play two World Test Championship matches against Australia Down Under from 21 November, this round serves as a crucial opportunity to furnish red-ball skills to the players named for the series. The Australia-bound players making their final appearance in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy include Abid Ali (Sindh), Asad Shafiq (Sindh), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Kashif Bhatti (Sindh), Naseem Shah (Central Punjab), Shan Masood (Southern Punjab) and Yasir Shah (Balochistan). Northern’s Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has also been named in the Test side, will continue his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy and resume bowing in Australia. Pakistan Test captain Azhar Ali will be in action at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, as table-toppers Central Punjab face Sindh, who are sitting in fourth position. As Azhar will not be available to lead Central Punjab for rest of the competition, the team management has handed leadership responsibilities to Ahmed Shehzad, who was originally named as vice-captain. Central Punjab are the only side to have recorded two wins in the ongoing event – both by innings’ margins. Central Punjab would also be hoping that their spin duo of Zafar Gohar and Bilal Asif continue from where it left two weeks ago. With 14 wickets, left-arm spinner Zafar is the second highest wicket-taker this tournament, while Bilal is third on the list with 13 scalps. Central Punjab also boasts one of the three batsmen to have scored a double-century this season in Salman Butt, who cracked 237 against Balochistan in Quetta in his side’s victory by an innings and 12 runs. In Abid Ali, Sindh possess an opener with a double-century this tournament. The right-handed batsman cracked an unbeaten 249 in his side’s opening match against Balochistan in Karachi. Sindh will be pinning their hopes on Abid and Omair Bin Yousuf, who has 297 runs in five innings at an average of 74.25, to provide them the impetus with the bat to register their first win of the tournament, while Kashif Bhatti, named for Australia Tests, will be a bowler to watch out as his left-arm spin has accounted for 10 scalps in three innings. The fifth-round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will also see Sialkot host first-class cricket after the gap of a season when Shan Masood-led Southern Punjab take on Umar Amin’s Northern. Southern is the other team to have won a match this tournament with their win over Sindh at UBL Sports Complex in the last round. They are ranked second on the points table. On the other hand, it is a woe-galore for Northern. The National T20 champions are languishing at the bottom of the points table. There, however, have been silver linings for them this tournament with their younger players putting up impressive performances. With 383 runs at an average of 54.71, 19-year-old Haider Ali, Pakistan U19 opener, is Northern’s top-scorer, and third in the list of overall run-getters in this tournament. With 14 dismissals behind the stumps, Rohail Nazir has the joint-most dismissals for a wicketkeeper with Central Punjab’s Kamran Akmal. Quetta’s Bugti Stadium will host its third four-day match of the season with hosts Balochistan taking on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Both teams will be without their regular captains who will be in Australia by the time the match commences. Imran Farhat will lead Balochistan in Haris Sohail’s absence, while Sahibzada Farhan will fill-in Mohammad Rizwan’s shoes. All eyes in this competition will be on Balochistan’s Yasir Shah, who leads the highest wicket-takers’ chart with 15 scalps and has a final go in competitive red-ball cricket ahead of Australia Tests, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Ashfaq Ahmed, the highest run-getter of the tournament with 473 runs at a staggering average of 157.66. Fifth round fixtures: Balochistan v Khyber Pakhunkhwa, Bugti Stadium, Quetta Central Punjab v Sindh, Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Southern Punjab v Norther, Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot