Misbah misses century but Faisalabad on top in final

KARACHI: Faisalabad skipper Misbah-ul-Haq missed what could have been his third century in five innings when he fell for 94 against Multan on the second day of their four-day Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade-II final at Multan Stadium on Monday.

His innings, however, enabled Faisalabad to secure a valuable 116 runs lead.

Misbah, who hit two centuries in Faisalabad’s league matches in Karachi, continued with his glorious form and helped Faisalabad pile up 361-8 in the allotted 83 overs in their first innings in response to Multan’s total of 245 all out.

Misbah, who opted to participate in the event to regain his form ahead of the West Indies Test series and to enable Faisalabad to qualify for first-class cricket, smashed ten fours and one six in his 130-ball effort after Faisalabad resumed their innings at 33 without a loss.

Misbah, also Pakistan’s Test captain, shared 116 for the third wicket with Ali Rafiq, who also played a handsome knock of 81. Left-handed opener Ali hammered eight fours in his 183-ball, sedate knock.

Earlier, Ali and Asif Ali (46) provided a solid 94-run opening stand to Faisalabad. Asif, a gutsy player, struck three fours from 93 deliveries.

All-rounder Khurram Shehzad, in the lower middle order, played aggressively, scoring an explosive 37-ball 70 with seven fours and three huge sixes.

Left-arm international spinner Zulfiqar Babar bowled with tight line and length and grabbed 6-149. He was backed by spinner Ali Usman with figures of 2-73.

Multan were reeling at 29-2 in their second innings at stumps. They need 87 more runs to avert an innings defeat.

The winners of the game will qualify for the Quaid-e-Azam Troohy first-class, which will begin in October.

The winners will replace Karachi Blues in the top-tier cricket season this year.

Karachi Blues and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) were relegated from the top-tier cricket when they finished at the bottom in the last first-class season.