Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report DUBHAI (November 21, 2021):-The International Cricket Council (ICC) has congratulated Ranjan Madugalle on becoming the first Match Referee to officiate in 200 Test matches. Madugalle, who is the Chief Referee of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, reached the landmark in the first Test between Sri Lanka and the West Indies in Galle. To mark the achievement, he was presented with mementos on behalf of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the ICC by SLC Vice President Dr Jayantha Dharmadasa and SLC CEO Ashley de Silva, respectively. Apart from officiating in 200 men’s Test matches, 369 men’s ODIs and 125 men’s T20Is, Madugalle has also supervised 14 women’s ODIs and eight women’s T20Is. Adrian Griffith, ICC Senior Manager – Umpires and Referees: “Ranjan has been a tremendous asset over the years and a significant source of inspiration for others. We have benefitted from his experience and work ethic, as someone you can turn to for guidance. “On behalf of the ICC, I would like to thank Ranjan for his years of service to the game and congratulate him on a wonderful career. We hope to continue benefiting from his expertise in the years to come.” Ranjan Madugalle: “It is an honour and a privilege to be officiating in my 200th Test match, for it is not a milestone I had never imagined I would reach. Whilst it has taken a long time, it seems just the other day that I had taken on this role, because I have enjoyed every bit of the journey. “This is obviously what dreams are made of and I continue to be passionately involved with the game and in my role while liaising with my colleagues from the world over. “The passion obviously comes from my time as a player and it is my good fortune to have remained connected so closely with the game. “I thank the International Cricket Council, Sri Lanka Cricket and all my colleagues over the years for all their help. My thanks are also due to my family and friends, without whose support it would not have been possible to have come this far.” Emirates ICC Elite Panel Match Referee Jeff Crowe: ‘It is difficult just to think of 200 Test matches against your name, let alone be on-duty for all those days and years over four decades. “It is an astonishing statistic to be in office and reflects his passion for cricket. Ranjan is a Five Star General when it comes to serving the game. “On behalf of all the Match Referees and Umpires on the ICC panels, I congratulate Ranjan on reaching the milestone and wish him many more.” Madugalle enjoyed a decade-long international career for Sri Lanka as a cricketer, in which he played each of his country’s first 18 Test Matches and enthralled spectators with his stylish stroke-play. He captained Sri Lanka in his final two Tests. He was appointed an ICC Match Referee in 1993. His first assignment was the Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi that December with a first ODI shortly afterwards. A regular at all major ICC tournaments, he has served as ICC Match Referee for four ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Finals (1999, 2003, 2015 and 2019), three ICC Champions Trophy Finals (2004, 2006 and 2013) and four ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Finals (2007, 2010, 2016 and 2021).

Aamir Ali Janjua DUBAI (November 21, 2021):-The International Cricket Council (ICC) today confirmed Geoff Allardice has been appointed as the organisation’s permanent CEO after more than eight months in the role on an interim basis. Allardice, a former first-class cricketer, was the ICC General Manager, Cricket for eight years having previously held a similar role at Cricket Australia. Greg Barclay, ICC Chair said: “I am delighted that Geoff has agreed to take the role of ICC CEO on a permanent basis. He has shown tremendous leadership during an extremely challenging period culminating in the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. “Geoff has unrivaled knowledge of the global cricket landscape and its stakeholders and has consistently demonstrated he is the right person to work in partnership with our Members to shape the sport for the next decade as we embark on delivering a new strategy and our next commercial rights cycle.”  Geoff Allardice, ICC CEO added: “It’s a great privilege to be appointed as the CEO of the ICC and I would like to thank Greg and the ICC Board for the opportunity to lead the sport as we enter an exciting new phase of growth. “My continued focus will be on doing the right thing for our sport and working closely with Members to deliver long-term success and sustainability. I would also like to thank the ICC staff for their commitment and support over the last eight months and I’m looking forward to continuing to serve  cricket with such a talented team.”

Sports Bulletin Report Harare, Zimbabwe (November 21, 2021):-After by a comprehensive win over Ireland Women in the warm-up match, Pakistan Women enter the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier with confidence. The national women’s team will play the opening match of the nine-team tournament against Bangladesh Women at Old Hararians Sports Club on Sunday. Pakistan, who are drawn in Group B, will then play Thailand Women, Zimbabwe Women and USA Women on 23, 27 and 29 November. The top three teams from the two groups will qualify for the Super 6 stage, from where top three teams will join the five sides – four teams that secured qualification by finishing in top four on the ICC Women’s Championship points table and event hosts New Zealand – for the event proper in March-April next year. Each and every match in the tournament holds significance as the points earned in the first round group matches will be transferred to the Super Six stage. Stressing on the importance of starting well, Pakistan captain Javeria Khan said, “Our match against Bangladesh is very important as it will set the tone of the tournament for us. As is the format, we will be carrying forward the points that we earn in the group stage, so this match is vital for us. “Every win uplifts the side and it was very good to see everyone contributing in the win against Ireland in the warm-up. This warm-up match helped us in accessing the conditions here and it provided us welcome match practice.” Pakistan squad: Javeria Khan (captain), Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wicketkeeper), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin and Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper) Reserves players: Aiman Anwar, Maham Tariq and Rameen Shamim.

BIPIN DANI Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has hired the services of a new computer analyst for the senior national team for the upcoming series against the West Indies, it is learnt. According to highly placed sources at the SLC headquarters, Shirantha Niroshana has taken over and joined the team bio-bubble in Galle.  "Sri Lanka's Brain Centre head Prad Navaratnam was an interim arrangement",  a top SLC official, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo said. Prad has also resigned from the job after his last assignment with the team in the World Cup. He resigned on November 9.    This is Shirantha Niroshana's first assignment with the senior men's team, though he has worked with the women's team in the past. Niroshana has also an ICC level 2 cricket coaching qualification and more than 10 years domestic and international analysis experience and 5 years cricket coaching experience at school level. He has also worked as an analyst with the Burgher Recreation Club. The 15-members, who were engaged with the 4-day match against the visiting Windies team in Colombo, joined the squad in Galle on Wednesday night. They are not required to undergo quarantine as they have arrived from the bio-bubble. These 15 players with the other seven members- captain Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, and Praveen Jaywickrama who practiced for two days, will train till the first Test begins from today (Sunday). 

Sports Bulletin Report Dhaka (November 20, 2021):-Batters Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan made light work of a 109-run chase as Pakistan won the second T20I by eight wickets to secure a 2-0 series win with one match of the three-match T20I series to spare against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium Mirpur, Dhaka on Saturday. Player of the match Fakhar who scored 34 runs in yesterday’s four-wicket win at the same venue, top-scored with a blazing unbeaten 57 off 51 balls (three sixes, two fours) while Rizwan contributed 39 off 45 balls (four fours) as Pakistan went past the target in the 19th over with 11 balls to spare. Fakhar finished the match in company of Haider Ali (six not out). Rizwan and Fakhar added 85 for the second-wicket after the tourists lost captain and opener Babar Azam for one in the third over of the innings. Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first. Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi who replaced Hasan Ali in the Pakistan eleven struck in his first over as Saif Hassan was dismissed lbw for a first ball duck. Mohammad Wasim Jnr dismissed the other opener Mohammad Naim (2) in the second over to leave the hosts tottering at five for two. Najmul Hossain and Afif Hossain added 46 runs for the third-wicket for what was the best partnership of the innings. Afif was dismissed for 20 by Shadab Khan with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan taking the catch behind the stumps. Bangladesh kept losing wickets at regular intervals as Pakistan bowlers’ maintained control of the proceedings on another challenging pitch. Najmul top-scored with 40 off 34 balls (five fours). Afif who scored 20 was the only other batter to make a significant contribution. For Pakistan Shaheen and Shadab took two wickets each, Wasim, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz took a wicket apiece. The third and final match of the series will be played at the same venue on Monday, 22 November. Scores in Brief: Pakistan beat Bangladesh by eight wickets Bangladesh 108 for 7, 20 overs (Najmul Hossain 40, Afif Hossain 20; Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-15, Shadab Khan 2-22) Pakistan 109 for 2, 18.1 overs (Fakhar Zaman 57 not out, Mohammad Rizwan 39; Mustafizur Rahman 1-12) Player of the match: Fakhar Zaman

Sports Reporter LAHORE (November 20, 2021):-Balochistan secured a thrilling draw against Northern at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad thanks to Gohar Faiz and Taj Wali. Balochistan had to knock off 285 runs with nine wickets in hand to secure their first Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22 win when the final day’s play of the fifth round began on Saturday, but Mehran Mumtaz’s four for 89 – which included wickets of Azeem Ghumman (21), Abdul Wahid Bangalzai (54), Ayaz Tasawar (90) and Jalat Khan (38) – pushed the Imran Butt-captained side on the back foot. They finished the day on 278 for nine. Abdul Wahid continued his run of form with a remarkable 97-ball 54. The youngster, who is playing his first Quaid-e-Azam Trophy season, smashed seven fours. It was Ayaz who provided stiff resistence with a 194-ball 90 (nine fours and a six) in the middle order, before he fell to Mehran. Kashif Ali and Raza Hasan shared four wickets equally between them. Both sides, for securing draw, shared five points each. The other four sides also secured five points each as the other two matches also ended in a draw. At the Gaddafi Stadium, Tayyab Tahir and Azam Khan scored half-centuries for Southern Punjab and Sindh’s Mohammad Asghar picked up four for 96. Tayyab top-scored with 179-ball 75, while wicketkeeper Azam smashed 67 off 71 (four fours and five sixes). At the Multan Cricket Stadium, Mohammad Ali’s three wickets instilled hope in Central Punjab’s camp, but Adil Amin’s 105-ball 10 not out and Rehan Afridi’s 65-ball 32 not out ensured the match between the joint-winners of the 2020-21 edition end in a draw. Ali followed up his brilliant six for 52 in the first innings with three for 42 as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were 109 for five before both captains shook hands. Central Punjab set 349-run target after declaring their second innings on 290 for eight. Zafar Gohar remained unbeaten on 49, while captain Ali Zaryab converted his overnight 102 int0 131 before he was dismissed by Khalid Usman. The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22 now moves to Karachi, where they last five rounds and the final will be played. Scores in brief: Balochistan and Northern play a draw at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Northern 244 all out, 84.4 overs (Abdul Faseeh 47, Rohail Nazir 41, Umar Amin 37, Muhammad Huraira 33, Mehran Mumtaz 23, Aamir Jamal 22; Kashif Bhatti 5-92, Raza-ul-Hasan 2-37, Jalat Khan 2-68) and 259-6, 76.4 overs (Abdul Faseeh 94, Mohammad Huraira 65, Umar Amin 42; Taj Wali 5-47) Balochistan 211 all out, 74.1 overs (Bismillah Khan 64, Akbar-ur-Rehman 50, Gohar Faiz 22; Raza Hasan 4-67, Mehran Mumtaz 3-80, Mubasir Khan 2-21) and 278-9, 85 overs (Ayaz Tasawar 90, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 54, Jalat Khan 38, Bismillah Khan 34, Azeem Ghumman 21; Mehran Mumtaz 4-89, Kashif Ali 2-24, Raza Hasan 2-87) Match points – Northern 11, Balochistan 11 Sindh and Southern Punjab play a draw at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Southern Punjab 310 all out, 101.3 overs (Umar Siddiq 84, Imran Rafiq 68, Umar Siddiq 61 not out, Zain Abbas 45, Yousuf Babar 36, Tayyab Tahir 24, Zia-ul-Haq 22; Sohail Khan 4-62, Tabish Khan 2-81, Mohammad Asghar 2-91) and 239-8, 74.4 overs (Tayyab Tahir 75, Azam Khan 67, Umar Siddiq 25; Mohammad Asghar 4-96, Mir Hamza 2-30) Sindh 350-9, 85 overs (Saad Khan 90, Ahsan Ali 70, Asad Shafiq 48, Tabish Khan 29 not out, Sohail Khan 22, Mohammad Hasan 21; Ali Usman 4-75, Aamer Yamin 2-70) Match points – Southern Punjab 12, Sindh 12 Central Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa play a draw at Multan Cricket Stadium Central Punjab 270 all out, 88.3 overs (Mohammad Saad 98, Ahmed Shehzad 36, Imran Dogar 32, Zafar Gohar 24, Saif Badar 23, Zafar Gohar 21 not out; Sameen Gul 3-55, Asif Afridi 3-57, Imran Khan Snr 3-97) and 290-8, 77.2 overs (Ali Zaryab 131, Zafar Gohar 49 not out, Junaid Ali 35, Saad Nasim 23; Khalid Usman 3-26, Imran Khan Snr 3-42) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 212 all out, 50.2 overs (Asif Afridi 61, Musadiq Ahmed 46, Asif Afridi 42 not out, Adil Amin 26, Sahibzada Farhan 24; Mohammad Ali 6-50, Waqas Maqsood 2-41) and 109-5, 47 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 35, Rehan Afridi 32 not out; Mohammad Ali 3-42) Match points – Central Punjab 14, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 10

Sports Bulletin Report DUBAHI (November 20, 2021):-The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021 supported by Dream 11 gets underway in Harare on Sunday with more at stake than just sealing places in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand. Apart from the three sides who will join the five who have already qualified for the World Cup, two others will also clinch places in the next ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) along with the top five from last time, as the number of teams in the third cycle of the IWC goes up from eight to 10. If teams like India and South Africa had figured in the 2017 Qualifier in Colombo, the nine-team tournament this time includes former T20 World Champions the West Indies (in Group A along with Sri Lanka, Ireland and the Netherlands) and World Cup regulars Pakistan (in Group B along with Bangladesh, Thailand, Zimbabwe and the United States). The final placings will be decided in a Super Six stage comprising three teams each advancing from the two groups. The teams making it to this round will carry over points gained in the preliminary league against other teams that advance to the Super Six stage. West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor looked forward to the tournament while exuding confidence on the back of an impressive 3-0 series victory over Pakistan this month. West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor: “We’re definitely looking forward to kickstarting the Qualifiers. The expectations are pretty high for us to finish number one or at least in the top three and be one of the eight teams in New Zealand next year. With that being said, we’re not taking any team for granted.  We’re going to go out there and play our best cricket. “I believe the all-round ability of our team is our strength, our batting is peaking at a good time heading into the Qualifiers, which was exemplified with two centuries in the recent series against Pakistan. Our bowlers are showing that they can defend the scores posted by the batters. So, we are looking forward to a competitive but enjoyable tournament.” Zimbabwe captain Mary-Anne Musonda, on the other hand, spoke for teams eyeing places in the IWC, which ensures exposure against top sides over the next three-year cycle. Zimbabwe captain Mary-Anne Musonda: “These qualifiers are very important for us. We have got a shot at qualifying for the World Cup, which is a very big platform and something that we want, and the opportunity of finishing in the top five, which will mean we will have tours as part of the ICC Women’s Championship. That would be good for our team - getting to play top sides. “Hosting (this event) is such a great thing for us - home conditions and fans cheering for us! We have a fair chance of making it to the top five and fighting through to get to the top three. We are hoping to start by winning our two games in Group B, aiming to take it one game at a time and hope for the best in the end. We have a good mix of youth and experience in our side.” Zimbabwe will play against Thailand on the opening day at Harare Sports Club while Bangladesh and Pakistan play at the Old Hararians Club simultaneously.

Sports Bulletin Report DHAKA, Bangladesh (November 19, 2021):-An all-rounders Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz added 36 runs off 15 balls to ensure a thrilling four-wicket win in the first match of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium Mirpur, Dhaka on Friday. Set a 128-run target, Pakistan went past the target with four balls to spare with Shadab hitting a six off Amin-ul-Islam, the visitors needed two runs off the final over. Pakistan lost their prolific opening pair of Mohammad Rizwan (11) and captain Babar Azam (7) cheaply while Haider Ali and Shoaib Malik fell for ducks. After six overs Pakistan were precariously placed at 24 for four, left-handers Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah led the recovery with 56-run stand for the fifth-wicket. Fakhar was dismissed by Taskin Ahmed for 34 off 36 balls (four fours). Khushdil was sent packing by Shoriful Islam for 35 (35 balls, three fours, one six) with the score at 96. Shadab hit two sixes and one four in his 21 off 10 balls while Nawaz contributed 18 off eight with the help of two sixes and one four to seal Pakistan’s win. Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first. Pakistan made early inroads as openers Mohammad Naim (1) and Saif Hassan (1) fell cheaply. The hosts were reduced to 15 for three in the fifth over when Mohammad Wasim Jnr accounted for Najmul Hossain Shanto (7). Captain Mahmudullah fell to Mohammad Nawaz for six with the score at 40 in nine overs. Afif Hossain top-scored for the hosts with 36 off 34 balls (two fours, two sixes) he was the fifth batter dismissed with the total at 61 in the 13th over. Bangladesh fought back through their lower-order of Mahedi Hasan (30 not out, 20 balls, one four, two sixes) and wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan (28 off 22 balls, two sixes) to post a competitive total on a challenging pitch that offered assistance to spinners. The hosts finished their 20 overs at 127 for seven. For Pakistan Hasan Ali who was later adjudged player of the match captured three wickets for 22 in four overs, Wasim Jnr took two wickets for 24 runs. Scores in Brief: Pakistan beat Bangladesh by four wickets Bangladesh 127 for 7, 20 overs (Afif Hossain 36, Mahedi Hasan 30 not out, Nurul Hasan 28; Hasan Ali 3-22, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-24) Pakistan 132 for 6, 19.2 overs (Khushdil Shah 34, Fakhar Zaman 34, Shadab Khan 21 not out; Taskin Ahmed 2-31) Player of the match: Hasan Ali

Sports Reporter LAHORE (November 19, 2021):-Balochistan, Central Punjab and Sindh recorded victories in the first round of the Cricket Associations Challenge that began on Friday at three cities of Punjab. At Rana Naved Cricket Academy in Sheikhupura, Sindh’s Saim Ayub century led his side to a seven-wicket win over Southern Punjab. After being put into bat, Southern Punjab were dismissed for 199 in the 43rd over. Opening batter Mukhtar Ahmed top-scored with a 76-ball 40, hitting four fours. Sharoon Siraj and Umar Khan scored 36 runs each. For Sindh, Asif Mehmood and Danish Aziz picked three wickets apiece. In reply, Sindh chased down the target in the 28th over for the loss of three wickets. Saim’s 100 came off 79 balls, which included 13 fours and two sixes. Mohammad Taha returned undefeated on a 61-ball 65, which included nine fours. The pair added 139 runs for the second wicket. Southern Punjab’s Mohammad Umair bagged two wickets for 32. At Saeed Ajmal Academy in Faisalabad, Balochistan beat Northern by 22 runs. After being put into bat, Balochistan scored 252 for nine in 45 overs. Captain Ali Waqas top-scored with a 85-ball 73, smashing six fours and two sixes. He knitted 108 runs for the second wicket with Aqib Junaid (32, 63b, three fours). Zainullah struck three sixes during his knock of 39 from 30 balls faced. Northern’s Salman Irshad took two wickets for 55. In reply, Zaid Alam’s hundred went in vain as Northern were bowled out for 230 in the 45th over. Opening batter Zaid top-scored with a 108-ball 109, hitting eight fours and six sixes. Taimoor Sultan contributed 39 off 33, hitting six fours and one six. For Balochistan, Saleem Mal grabbed four wickets for 37, while Mohammad Ibrahim Snr and Mohammad Shahid picked two wickets apiece. Half-centuries from Abdul Samad and Rizwan Hussain guided Central Punjab to a 75-run win over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at LCCA Ground in Lahore. Central Punjab scored 290 for seven after being put into bat. Rizwan top-scored with 90-ball 87, laced with five fours and two sixes. Opening batter Samad contributed a quick-fire 55 off 49 balls, which included six fours and one six. Samad’s opening partner Gauhar Hafeez scored 44 off 54, laced with four fours and one six. The opening pair added 92 runs. For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Aamer Azmat picked three wickets for 30 from six overs, while Mohammad Sarwar Afridi bagged two wickets for 53. In reply, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were dismissed for 215 in the 4oth over. Fazal-ur-Rehman top-scored with 70 off 79 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes. Aamer, while batting, scored 43-ball 47, hitting one four and four sixes. For Central Punjab, Fahad Munir, Kamran Afzal, Mohammad Faizan and Sohaibullah picked two wickets each. Scores in brief: Balochistan beat Northern by 22 runs at Saeed Ajmal Academy, Faisalabad Balochistan 252-9, 45 overs (Ali Waqas 73, Zainullah 39, Aqib Junaid 32; Salman Irshad 2-55) Northern 230 all out, 44.3 overs (Zaid Alam 109, Taimoor Sultan 39; Saleem Mal 4-37, Mohammad Shahid 2-31, Mohammad Ibrahim Snr 2-55) Sindh beat Southern Punjab by seven wickets at Rana Naved Cricket Academy, Sheikhupura Southern Punjab 199 all out, 42.1 overs (Mukhtar Ahmed 40, Sharoon Siraj 36, Umar Khan 36, Moinuddin 32; Danish Aziz 3-28, Asif Mehmood 3-45) Sindh 200-3, 27.4 overs (Saim Ayub 100, Mohammad Taha 65 not out; Mohammad Umair 2-32) Central Punjab beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by 75 runs at LCCA Ground, Lahore Central Punjab 290-7, 45 overs (Rizwan Hussain 87, Abdul Samad 55, Gohar Hafeez 44, Kamran Afzal 34 not out, Mohammad Irfan Khan 30; Aamer Azmat 3-30, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi 2-53) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 215 all out, 39.1 overs (Fazal-ur-Rehman 70, Aamir Azmat 47, Atizaz Habib 34 not out, Zohaib Khan 31; Fahad Munir 2-20, Kamran Afzal 2-33, Mohammad Faizan 2-36, Sohaibullah 2-38)

Sports Reporter LAHORE (November 19, 2021):-Balochistan were eight for one in pursuit of 293 against Northern to record their first win of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22. Their captain Imran Butt (0) was bowled by Kashif Ali when Balochistan began their second innings at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium. Azeem Ghumman and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai with the scores of four and three were at the crease when stumps were called on day three. Northern made 259 for six in 76.4 overs before declaring the innings after Muhammad Huraira and Abdul Faseeh made 65 and 94 and put 148 runs for the first wicket. With 73-ball 42, Umar Amin was the next best run-getter in the innings before he was bowled by Taj Wali, who also sent Huraira, Aamir Jamal, Mubasir Khan and Mehran Mumtaz packing to record his 17th first-class five-wicket haul. At the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Sindh collected four batting points, while Southern Punjab added three more points to their tally as the former declared their first innings at 350 for nine in 85 overs after taking a lead of 40. Saad Khan, resuming the day on 54, fell 10 runs short of a century when he was dismissed by Ali Usman, who finished with four for 75. Saad added 104 runs with his captain Asad Shafiq who made 48 off 98 before he was run out. Southern Punjab lost their opener Zain Abbas to Mir Hamza in seven overs bowled in their second innings. They were 12 for one with Tayyab Tahir and Umar Siddiq at the crease. At the Multan Cricket Stadium, captain Ali Zaryab’s unbeaten century had given Central Punjab a 267-run lead over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ali made 102 and smashed 14 fours from 179 balls as Central Punjab finished the day on 209 for six. Central Punjab will be looking to add quick runs on the final day’s play before they insert Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Imran Khan Snr had Central Punjab reduced to three for three with the wickets of Imran Dogar, Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Saad upfront. The pacer has taken three wickets for 42. Earlier, his team was bowled out for 212 in 50.2 overs as Central Punjab collected five bowling points. Scores in brief: Northern won the toss and elected to bat against Balochistan at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Northern 244 all out, 84.4 overs (Abdul Faseeh 47, Rohail Nazir 41, Umar Amin 37, Muhammad Huraira 33, Mehran Mumtaz 23, Aamir Jamal 22; Kashif Bhatti 5-92, Raza-ul-Hasan 2-37, Jalat Khan 2-68) and 259-6, 76.4 overs (Abdul Faseeh 94, Mohammad Huraira 65, Umar Amin 42; Taj Wali 5-47) Balochistan 211 all out, 74.1 overs (Bismillah Khan 64, Akbar-ur-Rehman 50, Gohar Faiz 22; Raza Hasan 4-67, Mehran Mumtaz 3-80, Mubasir Khan 2-21) and 8-1, 5 overs (Kashif Ali 1-5) Innings points – Northern 6, Balochistan 6 Toss Uncontested – Sindh opt to bowl against Southern Punjab at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Southern Punjab 310 all out, 101.3 overs (Umar Siddiq 84, Imran Rafiq 68, Umar Siddiq 61 not out, Zain Abbas 45, Yousuf Babar 36, Tayyab Tahir 24, Zia-ul-Haq 22; Sohail Khan 4-62, Tabish Khan 2-81, Mohammad Asghar 2-91) and 12-1, 7 overs (Mir Hamza 1-2) Sindh 350-9, 85 overs (Saad Khan 90, Ahsan Ali 70, Asad Shafiq 48, Tabish Khan 29 not out, Sohail Khan 22, Mohammad Hasan 21; Ali Usman 4-75, Aamer Yamin 2-70) Innings points – Southern Punjab 7, Sindh 7 Toss Uncontested – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa opt to bowl against Central Punjab at Multan Cricket Stadium Central Punjab 270 all out, 88.3 overs (Mohammad Saad 98, Ahmed Shehzad 36, Imran Dogar 32, Zafar Gohar 24, Saif Badar 23, Zafar Gohar 21 not out; Sameen Gul 3-55, Asif Afridi 3-57, Imran Khan Snr 3-97) and 209-6, 60 overs (Ali Zaryab 102 not out, Junaid Ali 35, Saad Nasim 23, Zafar Gohar 20 not out) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 212 all out, 50.2 overs (Asif Afridi 61, Musadiq Ahmed 46, Asif Afridi 42 not out, Adil Amin 26, Sahibzada Farhan 24; Mohammad Ali 6-50, Waqas Maqsood 2-41) Innings points – Central Punjab 9, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 5