Quaid-e-Azam trophy 2019 round five day two, all three games in balance

Day two of the four day matches brought no clear sign of any sides chances of winning this round as all three games are in balance heading into the business end of the games.

Sindh vs Central Punjab:

Unbeaten half-centuries by Fawad Alam and Saad Ali had Sindh at 196 for four in 57.5 overs when stumps were drawn on day two of their four-day first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy fixture against Central Punjab at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium.

Sindh had lost four wickets for 72 runs thanks to young fast-bowler Naseem Shah, who accounted for the wickets of Khurram Manzoor (10), Abid Ali (three) and Omair Bin Yousaf (33).

Faheem Ashraf was the other bowler to take a wicket as he removed Asad Shafiq, who managed only five runs from his 18-ball stay at the crease.

With the pressure mounting on the visitors, Fawad and Saad knitted an unbeaten 124-run stand for the fifth-wicket which put Sindh’s innings back on track.

Fawad had scored 78 runs from 133 balls with 10 fours, while Saad made 60 off 119 with eight fours at the end of the day.

Earlier, Central Punjab were 313 all-out in 95.5 overs as they added only 50 runs to their overnight score.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vs Balochistan:

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gave Balochistan a spirited reply on the second day of the fifth-round first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy fixture at Quetta’s Bugti Stadium.

In response to the home team’s 553-8 declared in 145.4 overs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were 150 for no loss in 34 overs at the close of play as captain Sahibzada Farhan and Israrullah batted on 72 and Israrullah on 71.

Earlier, Balochistan, 341 for three overnight, rode on an excellent double-century by Imran Butt to amass a huge score.

The 23-year-old hit a career-best 214 after resuming the day at his overnight score of 135 not out.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan was the most successful Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bowler, claiming three wickets for 126 runs. Imran Khan Sr. took two for 87, while Usman Shinwari and Junaid Khan took a wicket apiece.

Southern Punjab vs Northern:

Batsmen continue to dominate the four-day Quaid-e-Azam Trophy round five, first-class match between Southern Punjab and Northern at the Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot on Tuesday.

In reply to Northern’s mammoth first innings 550-run total, Southern Punjab finished day two at 102 for one in their first innings. Captain Shan Masood and Sami Aslam (42 not out) defied the Northern bowlers for nearly three hours before Shan’s departure a few minutes before close for 58 (76 balls, seven fours).

On day two, Northern resumed their first innings at 384 for one, Southern Punjab fought their way back in the morning session by taking three early wickets. Zeeshan and Umar’s heroic second wicket partnership (overnight 343 runs) yielded 358 runs. Zeeshan was dismissed after an epic 266-ball 216, his innings included 29 fours and five sixes.

The left-handed Umar who had posted his 20th first-class century fell for 156; he faced 224 balls hitting 20 fours and two sixes in the process. 

Northern declared at 550 for six, mid-way second session of the day.

Rahat Ali took three wickets for 97 runs while Mohammad Abbas took two for 86 in 23 overs.