Shahzad’s all-round display gives PTV edge

RAWALPINDI: Muhammad Shahzad’s fabulous all-round display has given PTV ascendency in the President’s Trophy final here at the Pindi Stadium following the second day’s play on Thursday.

Following his five-wicket haul, Shahzad topped it up with an unbeaten 125 to lift PTV to a vital 112-run first innings lead against State Bank (SBP). At stumps, SBP were 37-1 in 11 overs in their second innings, still trailing by 75 runs.

Earlier, resuming their first innings at the overnight score of 49-3, PTV managed to score 317 in 89.2 overs. Shahzad’s undefeated knock came off 152 balls, which included 14 fours and four sixes. Wicketkeeper-batter Waqar Hussain also registered a century (106) and knitted a 123-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Shahzad.

For SBP, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas and Niaz Khan bagged three wickets apiece. Scores in brief: SBP 205 all out, 54.2 overs (Imran Butt 89, Rameez Aziz 40; Muhammad Shahzad 5-29, Ali Usman 2-10) and 37-1, 11 overs. PTV 317 all out, 89.2 overs (Muhammad Shahzad 125 not out, Waqar Hussain 106; Kashif Bhatti 3-53, Mohammad Abbas 3-71, Niaz Khan 3-74).