Azhar ton in vain as Sindh trounce Balochistan

By Alam Zeb Safi

April 22, 2016

KARACHI: Test openers Khurram Manzoor and Sami Aslam slammed contrasting centuries to enable Sindh to overwhelm Balochistan by 42 runs on D/L method in their rain-hit game of Pakistan Cup 2016 at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, on Thursday.

Khurram (100) and Sami (108*) guided Sindh to 266-4 in 45 overs after the innings was reduced due to rain.

Chasing the revised target of 229 in 31 overs, Balochistan were restricted to 186-8 with skipper Azhar Ali scoring 100 not out.

After opting to bat first in hot conditions, Sindh had a cautious start and at one stage they were just 16 without loss in seven overs. However, Khurram took the centre stage as he went after the strong bowling attack of Balochistan and completed his scintillating century before being held by Shahid Yousuf in the deep off off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.

Khurram played a delivery from Azhar towards onside for a single to complete his 15th century in this form of cricket and ninth in his last 14 appearances.

He faced 70 balls during his smart effort which featured 17 fours and two sixes, which came off the bowling of Junaid Khan and Umar Gul. He added 148 runs from only 119 balls for the opening stand with Sami.

The 29-year-old Khurram hit left-arm spinner Nawaz Ahmd for three successive fours in one over. He hammered left-arm Test seamer Junaid Khan for four fours in an over that fetched 17 runs.

Sohail Tanvir, who had conceded six runs in his first four-over spell, had Khalid Latif (21) off the first ball of his second spell, held comfortably by Shahid Yousuf at short mid-wicket.

Khalid smacked three fours in his run-a-ball knock. Sindh were 191-2 in 27.1 overs. Umar Gul bowled Sohaib Maqsood (8) who struck one four from 17 balls. Left-hander Fawad Alam (4), who seemed uneasy while batting, fell prey to a delivery from Saeed Ajmal that pitched on the middle and off-stump and hit him right in front of the wicket. Umpire Ghaffar Kazmi had no hesitation in giving him out. Fawad faced 12 balls.

Rain stopped the play when Sindh were 266-4 in 45 overs.

Sami, who hit Ajmal for two sixes in an over, smashed eight fours and two sixes in his sixth century in this form of cricket. He faced 120 balls during his solid unbeaten hundred.

Sarfraz scored 22 not out off 30 balls, hammering one four.

Sami and Sarfraz shared 39 runs off 48 balls for the fifth wicket unbroken stand.

Ajmal, who went into oblivion after his action was remodelled, picked 2-62 from ten overs. Umar Gul got 1-47 from eight overs. Sohail Tanvir remained economical and captured 1-21 from eight overs.

When Sindh were 240-4 in 40 overs, play was stopped because on-field umpire Khalid Mehmood Senior had to leave because of a tragedy in his family. Television umpire Ahsan Reza went to the field to replace him. The reserve umpire Asif Yaqoob took the seat as the television umpire.

In pursuit of a stiff revised target, Balochistan had a poor start when Sohail Khan removed left-hander Mohammad Nawaz (0), trapped lbw off the second ball of the innings. Anwar Ali took the prized scalp of Babar Azam (13), who was caught by Khalid Latif at short mid-off to leave Balochistan reeling at 23-2. Babar struck three fours from 19 balls.

Umar Akmal (10) joined Azhar Ali but he also failed to play a major innings. Fawad bowled Akmal off the first ball of his spell. Sohail Tanvir (19), who was promoted in the batting order, scored quick runs before off-spinner Bilal Asif removed him. The left-hander edged him to keeper Sarfraz while going for a cut. Tanvir smacked two fours and a six from 14 balls. Balochistan were 73-4 in 12.1 overs. Soon afterwards, Mohammad Amir had Shahid Yousuf (5). It was a short-pitched delivery which Shahid wanted to pull towards square-leg, but he skied it and keeper Sarfraz rushed towards his left and took an easy catch.

Amir in his next over removed keeper Mohammad Hassan (5), caught by Sarfraz. It was a controversial decision as it seemed that the ball had gone into Sarfraz’s gloves after kissing Hassan’s helmet. Left-arm under-19 spinner Hassan Khan bowled under-19 Ghulam Haider (10).

Anwar Ali had Umar Gul (5) to leave Balochistan at 120-8.

Azhar Ali (100*) made fine effort, hitting 11 fours and two sixes from 83 deliveries. Saeed Ajmed made seven not out. Amir (2-19) and Anwar (2-39) bowled well.

On Friday (today) Punjab face Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a vital game. Both lost their initial matches.

Score Board

Sindh won toss

Sindh

Khurram Manzoor c Shahid b Saeed 100

Sami Aslam not out 108

Khalid Latif c Shahid b Sohail 21

Sohaib Maqsood b U Gul 8

Fawad Alam lbw b Saeed 4

*†Sarfraz Ahmed not out 22

Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3

Total (4 wickets; 45 overs) 266