QAT: Northern force S Punjab to follow on: Maiden win for KP in Quaid Trophy

LAHORE: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa secured their maiden win of the tournament as they defeated Balochistan by a whopping margin of an innings and 122 runs at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi, in the eighth round of the four-day first-class Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.

After they were all-out for 146 on Tuesday in reply of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s first innings 385 all-out, Balochistan were asked to follow on at the start of day three with a 239-run deficit. Junaid Khan (one for 17) and Usman Shinwari (two for nine) made early inroads which reduce Balochistan to 15 for three. The problems amplified for the batting side when Sajid Khan was introduced into the attack. The off-spinner ran through Balochistan’s middle-order, taking four wickets for 45 runs in 11 overs. Bismillah Khan (40) and Jalat Khan (22) delayed the inevitable with a 52-run partnership for the seventh-wicket. Once the pair was back in the pavilion, thanks to Sajid, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa captain Fakhar Zaman picked up last two wickets to finish the match.

Scores in brief: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 385 all-out in 114.3 overs (Zohaib Khan 133, Ashfaq Ahmed 54, Usman Shinwari 51, Israrullah 42, Sajid Khan 29; M Asghar 6-121, Khurram Shehzad 2-87)

Balochistan 146 all out in 51 overs (Bismillah Khan 35, Hussain Talat 25, Khurram Shehzad 22; Junaid Khan 4-36, Usman Shinwari 3-36) and after follow-on 117 all-out in 36 overs (Bismillah Khan 40, Jalat Khan 22; Sajid Khan 4-45, Usman Shinwari 2-2, Usman Shinwari 2-9)

Result: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa win by an innings and 122 runs.

Meanwhile, Some brilliant all-round performances by Northern players forced Southern Punjab to follow on in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy first class match at the KRL Ground Wednesday. Resuming at the overnight score of 149 for 2 in the first innings, Southern were bowled out for 268, leaving follow-on option for the Northern which their skipper utilised. Batting for the second time Southern Punjab reached 76 for the loss of one wicket that of Sami Aslam (14). Umer Siddique (39 not out) was at the crease. Earlier, Shadab Khan (3-33) from 10.5 over and Waqas Ahmed (2-53) bowled well for Northern to pack Southern for a low total. Umer Siddique (60), Zeeshan Ashraf (57), Adnan Akmal (45) and M Irfan (37) played well.

Scores: Northern 463 for 7 decl in 109.4 overs (Hammad Azam 100*, Umar Amin 90, Ali Sarfraz 73, Zeeshan Malik 45; M Irfan 5-158). Southern Punjab 268 all out in 81.5 overs (Umar Siddique 60, Zeeshan Ashraf 57, Adnan Akmal 45, M Irfan 37, Shadab Khan 3-33, Waqas Ahmed 2-53) and after follow-on 2nd innings 76 for 1(Umer Siddique 39*, Zeeshan Ashraf 21*).