Day three of QeA Trophy 2019/20 round eight concludes

Central Punjab vs Sindh:

Umar Akmal scored his first hundred of the season and Salman Butt produced a fighting knock to put Central Punjab in control against Sindh on day-three of their four-day eight round Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class game at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday. 

Umar (117 from 122 balls) and Salman (81 from 154 balls) produced an unbeaten third wicket stand of 185 runs to give their team an overall lead of 114 runs, when stumps were drawn Central Punjab were 207 for two in their second innings.

The younger Akmal came in to join Salman with his team 2 down and still trailing by 71 runs to Sindh's first innings score. He proceeded to counter attack with a series of spanking shots to rattle the bowlers.

Umar who had scored four half centuries this season didn’t spare any bowler as he raced to his 16th career century from just 85 balls with the help of 14 fours and three sixes.

Left handed Salman fought through a bruised thumb of his left hand battled on as he also reached the 34th fifty of his first-class career. 

The visitors found themselves in a strong position on a result-oriented pitch thanks to a five-wicket haul by the experienced Aizaz Cheema who finished with five for 81 runs to wrap up the Sindh first innings for 339 runs soon after lunch. Sindh resuming on 255 for four fell apart once Aizaz broke a 93 runs stand between Sarfaraz and Fawad Alam.

The experienced right-armer who had taken just one wicket on day two bowled superbly to get the wickets of captain Sarfaraz (58) and Anwar Ali (5) also had his stumps rattled.

Fawad after battling for 65 from 129 balls with seven fours was bowled by Waqas Maqsood while Bilal Asif grabbed the wicket of Mohammad Umar for six. The off-spinner ended with four for 73 adding one more to wicket to his second day haul. 

Northern vs Southern Punjab:

A collective effort from Northern bowlers had Southern Punjab following-on on day three of the eighth round match in the four-day first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy tournament at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi.

Southern Punjab could add only 119 runs to their overnight score as they were all-out for 268 in reply of Northern’s imposing 463 for seven.

Shadab Khan was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 33 runs, while Waqas Ahmed took two wickets for 53 runs. Haris Rauf, Nauman Ali and Hammad Azam picked up a wicket each.

Resuming his innings at 58, opener Umar Siddiq added only two runs to his score, while his overnight partner Mohammad Irfan made 37 off 65.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Adnan Akmal was the only notable contributor with the bat for Southern Punjab as he scored 45 runs from 66 balls, hitting seven fours.

With Southern Punjab 195 runs behind Northern’s first innings score, the latter enforced the follow-on.

Shadab dismissed Sami Aslam (14) to ring bells in Southern Punjab’s camp. However, Umar (39 not out) and Zeeshan Ashraf (21 not out) avoided further damage to drag their side to 76 for one at the close of third day’s play.