Farhan, Rizwan sparkle in Punjab victory

KARACHI: Sahibzada Farhan and international stumper Mohammad Rizwan blasted fine centuries to enable Punjab to defeat Balochistan by seven wickets in their day-night high-scoring opener of the Pakistan Cup National One-day Cricket Championship at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, on Wednesday.

Charsadda-born Farhan hit his career-best 155, while Rizwan blasted 124 not out to enable Punjab to achieve the seemingly difficult 366-run target in 48.5 overs after losing three wickets.

Farhan, who hit his third List A century, and Zain Abbas (47) provided a solid 92-run opening stand to Punjab. Zain got run out in the 15th over after the left-handed batsman had hammered six fours and one six from 43 balls. Rizwan then joined Farhan and the duo batted with great command, adding 238 runs for the second wicket to make the chase easier for Punjab. Farhan was the second man out, bowled by debutant Shaheen Afridi after he had hit 17 fours and two sixes in his 145-ball innings.

Skipper Shoaib Malik (21) then scored quickly before being bowled by leg-spinner Mohammad Irfan.However, Asif Ali (5*) completed the victory with seven balls to spare. Rizwan smashed 13 fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 97-bll knock. Irfan (1-79) and Shaheen Afridi (1-61) were the successful bowlers.

Balochistan’s skipper Ahmed Shehzad won a crucial toss and opted to bat first in simmering heat that caused great trouble, especially to the fast bowlers. After losing Naved Malik (9) in a run out, Bismillah Khan (106) and Ahmed Shehzad (95) played effortless knocks, sharing 173 for the second wicket to put a solid foundation for Balochistan.

Bismillah, who completed his century in 98 balls, was removed by left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti. The Quetta-born, 28-year-old Bismillah, who hit his third List A hundred, smashed 14 fours in his 105-ball innings.

International left-hander Mohammad Nawaz (83*) then joined Shehzad but the latter also was unlucky not to complete his hundred as he got run out. Shehzad struck six fours and three sixes in his exquisite effort.

Nawaz and Ramiz Raja Junior (51*) hammered Punjab’s bowlers, adding 126 runs for the fourth wicket unbroken association. They scored 114 runs in the last ten overs. Nawaz hammered eight fours and two sixes in his 55-ball innings. Ramiz smacked five fours and two sixes off 36 balls.

Kashif got 1-59 in ten overs. Test pacer Mohammad Sami (0-77 in 10 overs), Usama Mir (0-77 in 10 overs) and medium-pacer Mohammad Imran (0-66 in 10 overs) remained very expensive as the pitch provided no assistance to the bowlers.

Shoaib Malik used as many as eight bowlers.Rashid Riaz and Mohammad Sajid supervised the match. Zameer Haider was the television umpire, Qaiser Waheed the reserve umpire, and Aziz-ur-Rehman the match referee. On Thursday (today), Federal Areas will take on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The match will begin at 2:30pm.