Faisalabad make solid start in QT Grade II

KARACHI: Faisalabad on Tuesday began their quest for grabbing first-class status on a solid note when they accumulated 295-8 in the allotted 83 overs in their first innings of their Group B first round three-day match of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade-II against Dera Murad Jamali here at the National Stadium.

After being invited to bat, Khurram Shehzad (62), Ali Shan (60*) and Abu Bakar Khan (58) cracked solid fifties to enable their side to post a decent total.

Khurram, a first-class cricketer, smacked nine fours and one six in his 78-ball knock. Ali, who remained not out, hammered one six and nine fours, while Abu Bakar struck ten fours in his 90-ball knock.

Abdul Samad (45) and Usman Arshad (38) also batted well.

Saleem (3-62) and Ghulam Mohammad (3-80) got three wickets each. Medium-pacer Zahoor Khan claimed 2-86.

In response, DM Jamali were 13 without loss at stumps.

In another Group B show, at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, Abbottabad were skittled out for 233 in their first innings by Hyderabad thanks to left-arm spinner Nauman Ali’s impressive figures of 5-49.

Riaz Khalil top-scored with 49, which came off 131 balls and had three fours.

Khalil Ullah made 45 off 74 deliveries, hitting six fours and a six. First-class cricketer Fakhar Zaman, who recently represented Lahore Qalandars in Pakistan Super League (PSL), fell after scoring 36. The left-hander, who was in prolific in the last season and in the PSL, smacked six fours from 35 deliveries.

All-rounder Khalid Usman belted 36 with five fours. Nauman was backed by off-spinner Nasir Awais, who had figures of 3-84.

Hyderabad, in response, were reeling at 78-4 with Zeeshan Gul batting on 40 in which he had hit seven fours. Ikramullah captured 2-16.

In a Group A clash at Dring Stadium, Bahawalpur, Larkana perished for 193 in their first innings against Bahawalpur with Imran Ullah Aslam taking 6-61 for the hosts.

Asif Babar scored 83 off just 64 balls, hammering 12 fours and two sixes. Javed Ahmed made 42 with six hits to the fence.

Imran was backed by Mazhar Bashir and Ali Adnan with two wickets each.

Bahawalpur were in a strong position in response as they reached 153-2. Moin-Ud-Din was at the crease on 66 in which he had smacked ten fours.

Adeel Basit chipped in with 52 not out which included seven fours.

In another Group A fixture, at Multan Stadium, Azad Jammu and Kashmir were bowled out for 158 in their first innings by Multan. Daniyal hit 43 with eight fours. Abdul Shakoor made 29 with four boundaries. Ali Usman got 4-32, while Sadaf Mehdi captured three and left-arm pacer Zia-ul-Haq got two wickets.

In reply, Multan were 53 without a loss at close. Zain Abbas (28*) and Waqar Hussain (25*) were at the crease.

In the event ten outfits are competing which have been bracketed in two groups.

The Group A consists of Bahawalpur, Larkana, Multan, AJK and Sialkot.

The Group B comprises Hyderabad, Abbottabad, Quetta, DM Jamali and Faisalabad.

After a round robin engagement, the two leading sides from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be held from March 28 to 30 at Multan and Bahawalpur.

The final will be conducted at Multan Stadium from April 2-5.

The winners of the event will be promoted to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class 2017-18 season. Karachi Blues and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) were demoted from the first-class tournament last season.

Meanwhile, the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II for departments will begin from March 10. Its winners will rise to the first-class tournament.