Faisalabad record first win

KARACHI: Faisalabad recorded their first win when they defeated Quetta by five wickets in their Group B match of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade-II here at National Stadium on Friday.

On the third and final day of their three-day game, Faisalabad achieved the 102-run target in the 23rd over. Abu Bakar scored 27 not out. Abdul Samad made 21.

Niaz-Uddin and Gohar Faiz got two wickets each.

Having conceded 127 runs lead, Quetta resumed their second innings at 50-3 and were bowled out for 228.

Wicketkeeper batsman Bismillah Khan smashed 69 with 12 fours. Ramiz Raja (52) and Mohammad Imran *24) were the other main contributors.

Fast bowler Naseer Akram, Waqas Maqsood and Ahmed Safi got three wickets each.

Quetta posted 184 all out in their first innings. In response, Faisalabad made 311 all out.

In their previous game, Faisalabad had taken three points as they were held by Dera Murad Jamali to a draw.

Larkana stayed alive in the competition when they pulled off a 170-run victory against minnows Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in their Group A game, at Dring Stadium, Bahawalpur.

AJK, with their third straight defeat, are out of the tournament.

Chasing a stiff target of 298, AJK were bowled out for 127 in their second innings in the 55th over. Ikram Hussain scored 46 which had five fours. Imtiaz Leghari was the main destroyer who took 6-28.

Having gained 86 runs lead, Larkana resumed their second innings at 149-6 and were bowled out for 211.

Hamesh Kumar (59) and Mohammad Imran (28) were the top scorers. Malik Mushtaq was the pick of the bowlers with 5-59.

Larkana scored 277 in their first innings. In response, AJK managed only 191.

The match between Sialkot and Multan ended in a stalemate at Multan Stadium with the former taking three points due to first innings lead.

Chasing a tough target of 308, Multan had reached 171-5 in their second innings by the end of the show.

Imran Rafiq hit 52 with five fours, while Zeeshan Ashraf scored 42 with six fours.

Nauman Anwar got 2-66.

Having secured 91 runs lead, Sialkot began their second innings at 116-4 and were folded for 216 with Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti scoring 47 with four fours and one six.

Left-arm international spinner Zulfiqar Babar picked 4-51, while Sadaf Mehdi and Rizwan Haider claimed two wickets each.

Sialkot scored 275 in their first innings. In response, Multan perished for 184. This was the first win for Sialkot, who moved to 12 points.

The match between Abbottabad and Dera Murad Jamali, at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, failed to yield any result. Abbottabad secured three points due to first innings lead.

Set to score 245, Abbottabad had reached 76-2 in their second innings by the end of the match.

Young hard-hitting all-rounder Kamran Ghulam scored 41 with six fours.

DM Jamali, who had conceded 12 runs lead, resumed their second innings at 67-1 and declared it at 256-7.

Najeebullah scored 68 off 113 balls, hitting one six and nine fours. Nasir Khan (58) and Imran Khan (44) were the other main contributors.

Left-arm spinner Kamran Ghulam got 3-60. DM Jamali made 256 all out in their first innings. In response, Abbottabad scored 268 all out.