Northern, KP in tense battle for final spot

KARACHI: With Central Punjab having virtually grabbed final spot as they were well-poised to pull-off a draw against Southern Punjab, the two other contenders for the other final berth Northern and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were locked in a hot battle when bails were drawn on the penultimate day of their crucial outing of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (first-class) here on Wednesday.

Needing an outright win to book a place in the final, Northern got an early advantage when they took two key quick wickets of KP for 39 on the board after setting a 245-run target for the latter.

KP need 206 more runs to avert a defeat here at UBL Sports Complex. In response to Northern’s first innings total of 411-8 declared, KP resumed their innings at 156-6 and were bowled out for 306 in 100.2 overs and thus conceded a 105-run lead.

KP’s ample recovery was made possible by a superb 110-run stand for the seventh-wicket between Rehan Afridi (95*) and Mehran Ibrahim (54). Mehran, who was not out on two at close on second day, smashed nine fours from 98 deliveries. Rehan, who was batting on 19 on the third day, did a fantastic job, hammering 11 fours and one six in his 147-ball solid unfinished knock. Young fast bowler Waqas Ahmed, who bagged five top-order wickets on Tuesday, finished the innings with 6-109 in 30 overs.

Left-arm spinner Nouman Ali got 2-56 in 17.2 overs. After having secured the lead, Northern then declared their second innings at 139-6 in 25.2 overs to set a tricky target for KP. Zeeshan Malik, who had hit fifty in the first innings, also made a quick 52 off 44 balls, smashing two sixes and the same number of fours.

Faizan Riaz made 22 and discarded international all-rounder Sohail Tanvir smashed 31-ball 18 not out, clobbering one four. Off-spinner Sajid Khan got 2-15, ending the show with 6-136.

Chasing the target, KP had a poor start as they lost both their openers Sahibzada Farhan (9) and skipper Fakhar Zaman (7) cheaply that gave a clear edge to Northern. Ashfaq Ahmed (10*) and Israrullah (9*) will need to play a key role if they are to save their side from a possible defeat on Thursday (today). Spinners Nouman Ali and Sarmad Bhatti got one wicket each.

Meanwhile, here at the SBP Ground, Zeeshan Ashraf (141) and Agha Salman (140) cracked superb tons as Southern Punjab, after resuming at 23-1, were bowled out for 392 in 95.1 overs in response to Central Punjab’s first innings total of 597-9 declared.

Both the centurions shared 113 runs for the sixth-wicket association. Zeeshan smashed 15 fours and three sixes in his 212-ball knock, his fourth first-class hundred. Agha hammered 18 fours and three sixes in his 166-ball effort, his sixth first-class century. Test spinner Bilal Asif got 5-130 in 36.1 overs. Ehsan Adil (3-75) and Zafar Gohar (2-110) were the other successful bowlers.

After gaining a 205-run lead, Central Punjab were one without loss in their second innings at close.

Here at the National Stadium, Saud Shakeel (151) and Khurram Manzoor (109) blasted centuries to enable Sindh post 356-5 after resuming at 71-1 in response to Balochistan’s first innings total of 471-9 declared.

The duo added 213 runs for the second wicket stand. The 24-year-old left-handed Saud smashed 16 fours in his 275-ball career-best knock. Khurram hammered 15 fours from 208 balls, his 28th first-class and second century of the season. Fawad Alam was batting on 69 when the day’s game ended. Left-arm spinner Jalat Khan got 2-73.