Nadeem, Anas hit tons as KPT gain lead in finale

KARACHI: Openers Nadeem Javed and Anas Mahmood blasted spectacular hundreds to enable Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to gain 57 runs lead against Omar Associates on the second day of their four-day final of the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II here at National Stadium on Monday.
Nadeem struck 190, while young Anas hammered 112 to guide KPT to 406-8 in the stipulated 83 overs of their first innings in response to Omar Associates’ 349.
The duo shared 278 runs in 258 minutes for the first wicket association to boost KPT’s victory chances.
In case the show ends in a draw, KPT will reclaim their first-class seat which they had lost on their debut around nine years ago after getting relegated from their first prime tournament.
The hallmark of the day’s play was an impeccable batting display from Sheikhupura-born Nadeem. The right-hander applied himself in simmering heat and played superb shots towards all corners of the ground.
Nadeem, who was removed by Asif Raza, smacked 18 fours and three sixers in his marathon 208-ball innings which lasted 311 minutes.
Nadeem also surpassed K-Electric’s Behram Khan to emerge as leading scorer of the trophy with 685 runs to his credit so far.
Anas, the nephew of chief selector Haroon Rasheed, extended fine support to Nadeem, having smashed ten fours and two sixes from 190 balls. He stayed for 258 minutes at the crease.
Middle order experienced batsman Raza Ali Dar made a useful contribution of 30-ball 37, hitting two sixes and two fours.
Skipper and gloveman Mohammad Hasan struck 11-ball 18 not out with two fours.
The number three batter Shah Ali Zafar fell for 20 off 26 deliveries, having cracked two fours.
Medium-pacer Asif Raza was the most impressive of bowlers with 3-62 from 14 fours. Off-spinner Bilal Asif, who had also hit 103, got 3-91 from 18 overs.
Left-arm Test pacer Mohammad Amir (0-47 in 10.1 overs) left the field after developing hamstring problem.
However, his team’s official was confident that he would be able to bowl in the second innings.
“Because of hot weather, he developed a problem but I am hopeful he will be fit when our team will bowl in the second innings,” the source said.
At close, Omar Associates were 30 without loss in their second innings with Fazal Subhan batting on 22 and Danish Aziz on seven.
KPT Sports Manager Shah Naeem Zafar was happy with his team’s batting performance.
“I had told you that we would cross the 400-run mark,” Shah told ‘The News’.
“We made a smart plan on how to enable our players beat the heat and we were successful,” Shah said.
He was confident that his team would win the game.
“Let’s see how much target they will give us. And we InshaAllah would then try our level best to achieve that. I have faith in my batters,” added Shah.
Meanwhile, an official of Omar Associates said that their bowlers did not live up to the expectations.
“Our bowlers failed to deliver, especially the spinners bowled poorly,” the official said.
He praised KPT’s Nadeem Javed for playing a smart innings.
“The credit goes to Nadeem who played a classy knock and totally dominated our bowlers,” the official said.
“Tomorrow will be an important day. We would try to give a fighting target to KPT and will then try to bowl them out. I am hopeful we will achieve our target,” the official said.
Ahsan Raza and Ahmed Shahab are supervising the match.
Score Board
KPT won toss
Omar Associates 1st innings 349-all out
KPT 1st innings
Nadeem Javed c Omar b Asif 190
Anas Mahmood c Faisal b Waqas 112
Shah Ali Zafar b Jalat Khan 20
Faisal Khan c Omar b Asif 4
Raza Ali Dar c (sub) Hamza b Bilal 37
Ahmed Iqbal lbw Bilal 12
Babar Rehman c Fahad b Asif 2
Mohammad Hasan not out 18
Nabeel Malik c Jalat b Bilal 0
Adeel Malik not out 4
Extras 7
Total 406
Did not bat: Bilawal
Bowling: Mohammad Amir 10.1-1-47-0; Waqas Ahmed 13-0-67-1; Asif Raza14-3-62-3; Jalat Khan 22.5—0-106-1; Bilal Asif 18-0-91-3; Fahad-ul-Haq 2-0-9-0; Danish Aziz 3-0-20-0
Omar Associates 2nd innings
Fazal Subhan not out 22
Danish Aziz not out 7
Extras 1
Total 30
Did not bat: Umar Siddiq, Saeed Mutabbir, Mohammad Waqas, Faha-ul-Haq,Asif Raza, Jalat Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Amir, Waqas Ahmed
Bowling: Adeel Malik 2-0-11-0; Bilawal 2-0-6-0; babar Rehman 2-0-9-0; Raza Ali Dar 1-0-3-0
Umpires: Ahsan Raza. Ahmed Shahab