RAWALPINDI: Sajid Raza’s six-wicket haul for Islamabad and Afaq Afridi’s five-wicket burst for Fata headlined the opening day of the second round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold, with bowlers dominating proceedings at several venues on Monday.
At the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Sajid claimed six for 48 to bowl Lahore Whites out for 120 in 28.5 overs. Islamabad made a strong start in reply, reaching 113 for one in 30.1 overs at stumps, just seven runs behind. Raja Hamza Waheed was unbeaten on 47, while Azeem Bari had made 42 not out.
At the National Ground in Islamabad, Afaq returned figures of five for 66 as Peshawar Blues were dismissed for 220 in 44.1 overs. Sajid Khan top-scored with 82, while Najab Khan contributed 65. Fata reached 94 for three in 19 overs in reply, with Salman Khan Jr unbeaten on 46.
At the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, Karachi Blues were bowled out for 214 in 62 overs.
Haroon Arshad scored 48 and Abdullah Fazal made 40, while Moheer Saeed took three for 31. Multan lost two early wickets and were struggling at two for two in 2.4 overs when stumps were drawn.
At the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Faham-ul-Haq top-scored with 91 as Faisalabad were dismissed for 222 in 71.4 overs against Sialkot Blues. Atig-ur-Rehman contributed 46, while Athar Mehmood claimed three for 59.
In the Silver competition, Mohammad Nawaz produced an impressive five for 13 to dismiss Larkana for just 57 before Rawalpindi reached 215 for three, with Abdul Faseeh narrowly missing a century on 95.
Arshad Iqbal claimed six for 16 as Abbottabad bowled DMJ out for a meagre 30 before reaching 239 for five in reply.
At another venue, Saad Khan struck an unbeaten 155 to guide Hyderabad to 314 for six against AJK. Meanwhile, Mohammad Tayyab scored 139 to lift Sialkot Whites to 353 for nine against Karachi Whites.
Najeebullah took six for 48 to restrict Bahawalpur to 144, while Quetta reached 101 for two at stumps.
Mohammad Ilyas also starred with the ball, claiming six for 40 as Lahore Blues were dismissed for 175. Peshawar Whites finished the day at 115 for three in reply.-Agencies