KARACHI: Imam-ul-Haq and Ahmed Shehzad batted superbly and left-arm pacer Usman Shinwari took two crucial wickets to enable Habib Bank Limited (HBL) to tighten the noose around WAPDA on the penultimate day of their five-day day-night final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy here at National Stadium on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old Imam (200*) hit his maiden double hundred and Test cricketer Shehzad struck 104 not out enabling HBL to declare their second innings at 485-1 in 122.5 overs after resuming at 264-0. They thus set a stiff 444-run target for WAPDA who were 83-2 at stumps in 36 overs in their second innings. They need 361 more runs for victory.
Imam, who was not out on 105 at the end of the third day on Tuesday, played fluently. The left-hander, who is the nephew of chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, took three runs off the bowling of part-time off-spinner Zahid Mansoor to achieve the milsetone. With Imam’s double century HBL declared their innings just before dinner.
Imam struck 14 fours and a splendid six off international left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar in his 364-ball knock.
Imam reached his 150 off 305 balls when he took a single off the bowling of left-arm paceman Waqas Maqsood.
His previous best in first-class cricket was 129.
Imam finished the season with 848 runs at an average of 49.88. His feat includes three centuries.
Kamran Akmal of WAPDA is on the top with 1035 runs and Asif Zakir of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has finished with 853 runs.
Shehzad, who joined the team on December 9 after returning from Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), showed his class. The 25-year-old, who has played 11 Tests and 75 One-day Internationals, struck five fours in his 137-ball unbeaten knock.
He reached his fifty off 76 balls and his hundred came off 127 balls. He took a single off Waqas Maqsood to reach his 11th first-class hundred in his 65th game.
Shehzad and Imam scored 182 runs for the second wicket unbroken stand.
Earlier, HBL lost their only wicket when left-handed Fakhar Zaman was removed by Zulfiqar Babar for 170.
Fakhar, who was batting on 157 at stumps on the third day, struck 19 fours from 238 deliveries.
He added a record 303 runs for the opening stand with Imam.
Babar took 1-129 in 38 overs.
Waqas (0-11 in 24 overs), Zahid Mansoor (0-91 in 22.5), Mohammad Irfan (0-67 in 18) and Mohammad Asif (0-62 in 15) struggled throughout on the flat pitch.
WAPDA, who started their innings just before dinner, received two early blows when paceman Usman Shinwari (2-12) got rid of left-handed opener Adnan Raees (15) and Zahid Mansoor (1) in two successive overs.
WAPDA were 36-2 in the 19th over. Skipper Salman Butt (38*) and young Mohammad Saad (20*) scored 47 runs for the third wicket unbroken stand by close of the day’s play.
Salman struck six fours from 106 balls. Saad hit three fours from 57 balls.
WAPDA are facing a stiff challenge as their key players Kamran Akmal and Khalid Usman are on the injury list.
If WAPDA manage a draw they will win the crown as they gained 42 runs lead.
HBL coach Kabir Khan said that they would need at least two wickets in the first session on Thursday (today). “Definitely, we will need a couple of wickets in the first session. WAPDA have two players injured and if we get early wickets tomorrow it will become clear who they will send. If they send the tail, the pressure will definitely be on them,” Kabir told ‘The News.
“The role of Shinwari and Abdul Rehman is crucial,” the former left-arm international fast bowler said.
WAPDA coach Zahid said that they still had a chance. “The wicket is flat and we will try to play our game,” he told this correspodnent. He dispelled the impression that Khalid and Kamran may not be able to bat. “The ball hit Khalid’s shoulder. He has had physiotheraphy and is now quite well. Kamran is also good and both will bat,” said Zahid, a former WAPDA skipper.
The match is being supervised by umpires Ahsan Raza and Asif Yaqoob. Ahmad Shahab is the television umpire, Imtiaz Iqbal the reserve umpire and Ishtiaq Ahmed the match referee.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan also witnessed the last session of the match.
Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, along with fellow selectors, was also present at the venue.
Score Board
WAPDA won toss
HBL 1st innings 236 all-out (Rameez Aziz 90; Asif 4-29)
WAPDA 1st innings 278 all-out ( Salman Butt 125; Abdur Rehman 3-66)
HBL 2nd innings
Imam-ul-Haq not out 200
Fakhar Zaman c sub (Mansoor) b Zulfiqar 170
Ahmed Shehzad not out 104
Extras (b 9, nb 2) 11
Total (1 wicket dec; 122.5 overs) 485
Did not bat: *Abdur Rehman, Imran Farhat, Rameez Aziz, M Waqas (2), †Jamal Anwar, Fahim Ashraf, Amad Butt, Usman Khan
Fall: 1-303
Bowling: Asif 15-1-62-0; Waqas 24-1-111-0 (1nb); Irfan 18-2-67-0; Zulfiqar 38-2-129-1; Zahid 22.5-1-91-0 (1nb); Adnan 2-0-7-0; Aamer 2-0-5-0; Salman 1-0-4-0
WAPDA 2nd innings
Adnan Raees lbw b Usman 15
*Salman Butt not out 38
Zahid Mansoor c Jamal b Usman 1
M Saad not out 20
Extras (b 4, lb 1, nb 4) 9
Total (2 wickets; 36 overs) 83
To bat: Aamer Sajjad, †Kamran Akmal, Khalid Usman, Zulfiqar Babar, Waqas Maqsood, M Asif, M Irfan
Fall: 1-30, 2-36
Bowling: Fahim 9-4-27-0 (2nb); Amad 10-1-27-0 (2nb); Usman 6-1-12-2; Abdur Rehman 7-4-6-0; Rameez 2-1-6-0; Fakhar 2-2-0-0
Umpires: Ahsan Raza and Asif Yaqoob. TV umpire: Ahmed Shahab. Match referee: Ishtiaq Ahmed
