PIA beat Brighto to regain first class status

By our correspondents

March 31, 2016

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) regained first class status after staying away from it for just one season when they demolished Brighto Paints by ten wickets on the second day of their four-day final of Patron’s Trophy Grade-II at Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad on Wednesday.

PIA chased the 28-run victory target in 4.2 overs without losing a wicket.

Having conceded 65 runs lead, Brighto Paints also failed to click in the second innings and were folded for 92. Farhan Khan scored unbeaten 35 off 25 balls, hitting four fours and a six.

Opener Waqas Saleem (12), Salman Ali (12) and Ahmed Bashir (12) were the only others to manage double figures.

Test pacer Aizaz Cheema was the hero for PIA as he bowled with great accuracy and picked 5-35 in five fours, for match figures of 10-53.

He was ably backed by his fellow pacemen international Najaf Shah (3-32) and Ali Imran Pasha (2-17).

Pasha finished the game with 5-55.

In response to Brighto Paints’ first innings total of 91, PIA began the day at 150-9 and lost their last wicket after adding only six runs to their overnight total.

Ahmed Bashir, the paceman, claimed 4-45.

PIA, one of the premier outfits of the domestic circuit with a great legacy, had to go down to the second-tier slots when Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to reduce the number of teams in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

PIA appeared in the qualifiers but failed to qualify for the main round and had to play in the Grade-II.

In 2016-17 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, PIA will replace Port Qasim Authority, who will appear in the Grade-II next season.

Score Board

Brighto Paints won toss

Brighto Paints 1st innings 91 all-out

PIA 1st innings

Kamran Sajid b Ahmed 45

Obaidullah c Salman b Faisal 9

Shoaib Khan run out 3

Fahad Iqbal c Idrees b Waqas 49

Faisal Iqbal c Faisal b Waqas 1

Sheharyar Ghani c Raza b Ahmed 3