Kamran hits ton as Central Punjab-Sindh match ends in draw

KARACHI: Kamran Akmal joined his brother Umar in scoring a century in the same innings for Central Punjab against Sindh before their four-day first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match ended in a draw at the National Stadium on Thursday.

Kamran produced a master class of 166 from 212 balls as Central Punjab made 499 for nine in their second innings before the umpires called off the match after tea. Umar had completed his first century of the ongoing first class-season on Wednesday. He was dismissed for 122 from 128 balls soon after play resumed on Thursday.

Kamran produced a mixture of strong defence and attack as he put on 227 runs for the sixth wicket with Zafar Gohar (75 from 131 balls). The wicket-keeper batsman hit a total of 26 fours in his 33rd first-class century. The match looked headed for a draw after Kamran and Zafar kept on piling the runs as Sindh bowlers struggled to find movement on the pitch.

Sindh had to wait till one hour after tea before they broke the partnership when Anwar Ali had Gohar caught at third man. The pacer also had Bilal Asif (4) caught behind by Sarfraz Ahmed.

Kamran was trapped leg before by left-arm-spinner Amir Ali. Aizaz Cheema was dismissed by Fawad Alam. In the morning session, Umar (117) was dismissed by Sohail Khan and Tabish Khan struck twice in succession to remove Salman Butt (83) and Usman Salahuddin (10).

Tabish finished the match with figures of seven for 222. Central Punjab had scored 246 all out in their first innings. In reply, Sindh scored 339 all out.

At Rawalpindi’s KRL Stadium, the match between Southern Punjab and Northern ended in a draw as only 47 overs were bowled because of rain on the final day. With Southern Punjab trailing by 119 runs, Northern eyed their second consecutive win in the tournament when play resumed on day four.

However, a remarkable century by Umar Siddiq helped his side to surmount the trail. Southern Punjab, following on, were 271-4 in 74 overs when the match ended.

The left-handed Siddiq cracked 107 runs from 151 balls, hitting 13 fours, and constructed a crucial 135-run partnership for the second wicket with Zeeshan Ashraf, who with 101-ball 52 scored his second half-century of the match.

Like Zeeshan, Umar had also recorded a half-century in Southern Punjab’s first innings. Sohaib Maqsood’s 11th half-century in the format further strengthened Southern Punjab’s position. The 32-year-old right-handed batsman scored a blistering 54-ball 52, which was studded with five fours and two sixes.

Abdul Rehman Muzammil (38) and Adnan Akmal (0) were on the crease when play was interrupted by rain. For Northern, their captain Nauman Ali, Sadaf Hussain and Shadab Khan picked up a wicket each on Thursday.

Northern scored 463-7 declared in their first innings. Southern Punjab scored 268 all out in response. At the end of the eighth round, Central Punjab lead the points table with 117 points followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 97 points and Southern Punjab 91 points. Sindh, who have been win-less in the competition so far, are fifth with 69 points.