KARACHI: A captain`s knock from Khalid Usman helped Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to avert the follow on against Northern in their fifth-round Quaid-eAzam Trophy fixture at the National Stadium here on Saturday.

The 34-year-old allrounder, who bats righthanded and slow left-armers, reached a maiden century after making 24 fiftyplus scores in 92 games having made his first-class debut in October 2007 as he hit up an undefeated 113 to help his side post 3181n their first innings on the penultimate day of the four-day match.

Khalid was on 59 when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resumed at 249-7 in reply to Northern`s 460-9 declared and had to rely on last man Arshad Iqbal for support before finally reaching the coveted landmark by lifting Mohammad Nawaz for a boundary. Khalid`s 158-ball innings included 16 fours and four sixes.

Northern then went forquick runs and declared their second innings at 259-4 with young wicketkeeper/batsman registering his first ton at the first-class level. The 22-year-old righthander capitalised on his promotion to No 3 by strile ing an unbeaten 103 off 126 balls (nine fours).

Set 390 for victory, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa made a fine start by closing at 55-0.

The remaining two fixtures were heading for draw.

Centuries from opener Omair Bin Yousuf (109 off243 balls, 11 fours and three sixes) and Saud Shakeel (142 off 233, 15 fours and one six), who put on 207 for the second wicket, guided Sindh to 407 in response to Balochistan`s 458-9 declared at the SBP Sports Complex.

Slow left-armer Jalat Khan snared five wickets for 85 runs in 30.2 overs before Balochistan went to stumps at 42 without loss to have an overalllead of93.

Bottom-placed Central Punjab continued their solid progress against leaders Southern Punjab at theUBL Sports Complex. The holders were 401-9 in their reply to Southern Punjab`s 527-7 declared.

Close of play scores on Saturday (day three offour): First XI. hfth round: At National Stadium. Karachi: NORTIIERN460-9 declared in 102.2 overs (Faizan Riaz 146. Mohammad Nawaz 121.

Nasir Nawaz 68. Asif Ali 52 not out. Sarmad Bhatti 24; Zohalb Khan 3-46, Arshad Iqbal 3-75, Sajid Khan 2-112) and 247-4 declared in 49.1 overs (Umair Masood 103 not out. Nasir Nawaz 84, Faizan Riaz 56.

Mohammad Nawaz 29 not out Sarmad Bhatti 25; Sajid Khan 2-72); KI IYBER PAKHTUNKHWA 318 in 76.2 overs (Khalid Usman 113 not out. Kamran Ghulam 67.

Rchan Al`ridi 34, Mohammad Wasim 27; Munir Riaz 5-113, Nauman Ali 2-64) and 55-0 in 90vers (Musadiq Ahmed 29notout Israrullah 22 not out).At UBL Sports Complex. Karachi: SOUTHERN PUN.lAB 527-7 declared in 134 overs (Agha Salman 169, Mohammad 1mran 100 not out. Umar Siddique 94. Zain Abbas 69. Bilawal Bhatti 37. Saif Badar 22: Hasan Ali 2-79. Waqas Maqsood 2-88, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 2-118); CENTRAL PUN.lAB 40l-9 in 13] overs (Usman Salahuddin 76, Saad Nasim 69, Ali Zaryab 67, Ali Shan 44. Ahmed Shchzad 33. Bilal Asil` 24, IIasan Ali 22 not out: Agha Salman 3-44, Bilawal Bhani 3-60).

At SBP Sports Complex, Karachi: BAl_OCH1STAN458-9declared in 115.5 overs (Akbar-ur-Rehman 164. Ayaz Tasawwar 138 not out All Waqas 46. 1mran liarhat 33, Kashif Bhatti 23. Azeem Ghumman 22: Shahnawaz Dhani 4-79. Abrar Ahmed 3-123) and 42-0 in 12 overs (Azeem Ghumman 24 not out: SlNDH 407 in 121.2 overs (Saud Shakeel 142. Omair Bin Yousuf 109, Saad Ali 56. Sharjeel Khan 26; Jalat Khan 5-85. Mohammad Talha 2-64, Taj Wali 2-86).