Umar Akmal’s double ton gives Central Punjab 421-run lead

KARACHI: Umar Akmal slammed a superb double century to enable Central Punjab to take a massive lead of 421 runs against Northern on the third day of their five-day final of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (first-class) here at National Stadium on Sunday.

Umar, who was not out on 123 on Saturday, hammered 218 as Central Punjab declared their first innings at 675-8 in 155.1 overs after resuming at 466-5 in response to Northern’s 254.

Northern were 109-2, in response, in their second innings at stumps. They need 313 runs to avoid an innings defeat. Umar smacked 20 fours and eight sixes in his second first class double century for which he faced 265 balls. He had smashed 248 not out in 2007-2008 while representing SNGPL against Karachi Blues here at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium.

The 29-year-old, who was less agressive than the previous day, reached 150 off his 176th ball and 200 off the 257th.

Umar, a veteran of 16 Tests, took full advantage of the flat track which proved to be a graveyard for Northern’s bowlers.

Umar, who was held by substitute Shoaib Ahmed off young pacer Mohammad Musa, stayed at the wicket for 374 minutes.

He added 215 for the sixth wicket with Zafar Gohar (99) who unluckily fell to spinner Faizan Riaz. The left-handed allrounder had reached his fifty off his 108th ball. He hammered 12 fours and two sixes in his 168-ball feat. Bilal Asif scored 15-ball 17, hitting two fours and one six.

Musa, who was hit by Umar for two successive sixes, took 2-115 in 30 overs. Faizan captured 2-62 in 14.1 overs. Central Punjab declared their innings before tea.

Northern had a solid 75-run start provided by Haider Ali (50*) and Zeeshan Malik (38). Test off-spinner Bilal gave a much-needed breakthrough to Central Punjab when he had Zeeshan caught at deep mid-wicket by Faheem Ashraf.

Chakwal-born 23-year-old Zeeshan smacked six fours from 56 deliveries. And just before the close of the third day’s game, Faheem Ashraf got the key wicket of Umar Amin (17) which left Northern in deep trouble. Amin, who was caught by Kamran Akmal behind the stumps, clobbered three fours from 45 balls.

At close, Northern were 109-2 in 36 overs with 19-year-old Attock-born Haider Ali batting on 50 in which he had struck seven fours. This was his fourth half century in seven first-class games. The first innings centurian Faizan Riaz had yet to open his account at the other end.

Northern’s allrounder Hammad Azam said that they had not lost hope. “The game is still on. Two days are still left and if we take a 200-lead after overcoming the deficit then we can finish it on a good note,” Hammad said.

Ahsan Raza and Asif Yaqoob are supervising the match while Iftikhar Ahmed is the match referee.

Northern won toss

Northern 1st Innings 254 all out (Faizan Riaz 116; Faheem 5-54)

Central Punjab 1st Innings

Salman Butt b Musa 74

Ahmed Shehzad c Umar b Nauman 20

Azhar Ali c Rohail b Nauman 119

*Babar Azam c Zeeshan b Sadaf 69

Umar Akmal c sub (Shoaib) b Musa 218

†Kamran Akmal c Ali b Hammad 41

Zafar Gohar c Sadaf b Faizan 99

Faheem Ashraf not out 0

Bilal Asif c Hammad b Faizan 17

Extras (lb 8, nb 2, w 4) 14

Total (8 wickets dec; 155.1 overs) 675

Did not bat: Ehsan Adil, Aizaz Cheema

Fall: 1-30, 2-125, 3-250, 4-343, 5-441, 6-656, 7-658, 8-675

Bowling: Waqas 28-5-121-0; Sadaf 17-1-79-1 (w 2); Nauman 45-5-183-2; Musa 30-6-115-2 (w 1, nb 1); Hammad 18-2-83-1 (w 1, nb 1); Faizan 14.1-0-62-2; Amin 3-0-24-0

Northern 2nd Innings

Haider Ali not out 50

Zeeshan Malik c Faheem b Bilal 38

Umar Amin c Kamran b Faheem 17

Faizan Riaz not out 0

Extras (b 4) 4

Total (2 wickets; 36 overs) 109

Yet to bat: Ali Sarfraz, Hammad Azam, †Rohail Nazir, *Nauman Ali, Waqas Ahmed, Muhammad Musa, Sadaf Hussain

Fall: 1-75, 2-109

Bowling: Ehsan 8-3-15-0; Aizaz 3-1-11-0; Zafar 11-1-34-0; Faheem 7-2-21-1; Bilal 7-0-24-1

Umpires: Asif Yaqoob and Ahsan Raza. TV umpire: Rashid Riaz. Match referee: Iftikhar Ahmed