Akbar, Faizan, Nawaz score tons at start of fifth round

KARACHI: Karachi-based Akbar -ur- Rehman gave Sindh bowlers a taste of their own medicine on Thursday, when the veteran right-hander celebrated his 100th appearance in first-class cricket with an unbeaten stroke of the century as Balochistan amassed 333-5 on the first day of their fifth-round fixture at the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy here at the SBP Sports Complex.

Akbar:

A similar tale unfolded in the televised game at the National Stadium, where Faizan Riaz and Mohammad Nawaz pulverised Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a sparkling double-century partnership, both of which surpassed the three-figure mark, as Northern collected 371-5.

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Meanwhile in the Punjab derby at the UBL Sports Complex, Southern leaders scored 272-5 against Central, with skipper Umar Siddique struggling to score a hundred.

Being considered ‘visitors,’ Sindh first opted for a bowl after the toss was not contested. Still, despite his bowlers taking the first two wickets for 88 runs, Asad Shafiq was left to question his expertise.

Akbar then entered the left-handed Ali Waqas, who had run out for 46, in 66 minutes before Ayaz Tasawwar came out to join the well-set Akbar in an unfinished stand of 179 for the fourth wicket in 206 minutes.

While the left-handed Ayaz struck 67 out of 153 balls (seven borders), it was the 37-year-old Akbar who was in dominant mood as he reached 155 out of 194 deliveries, hitting 12 fours and four sixes in his 13th first-class century.

Nawaz, who missed just five shorts to score his sixth first-class cent against Balochistan on Monday, scored 121 after Northern Captain Nauman Ali had opted to beat first. Left-wing Nawaz outscored Faizan in their rolling 219 partnership in 195 minutes before being shot in the last session. Pakistan’s 146-ball effort contained 15 borders and two sixes.

Faizan was beating 124 in a 162-ball knock comprising 16 fours and six. That was the 10th time he has hit three first-class numbers.

Earlier in the day, Nasir Nawaz was a big run-getter with 68 in the first run of 90 with Sarmad Bhatti being promoted.

Umar Siddique fell six runs short of finishing his 10th tonne by opting to battle Central Punjab first. Together with fellow left-winger Zain Abbas (69), the Southern Punjab captain shared a second-hand partnership of 88. He was eventually rejected for 232-Ball 94 (11 boundaries).

In the evening session, Agha Salman further irritated Central Punjab as he struck an undefeated 62.

Close of play scores on Thursday (day one of four):

First XI, fifth round:

Karachi: NORTHERN 371-5 in 87 overs (Faizan Riaz 124 not out, Mohammad Nawaz 121, Nasir Nawaz 68, Sarmad Bhatti 24; Sajid Khan 2-98) vs KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA.

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: SOUTHERN PUNJAB 272-5 in 88.2 overs (Umar Siddique 94, Zain Abbas 69, Agha Salman 62 not out, Saif Badar 22; Waqas Maqsood 42, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 2-62) v CENTRAL PUNJAB.

At SBP Sports Complex, Karachi: BALOCHISTAN 333-3 at 87 overs (Akbar-ur-Rehman 155, Ayaz Tasawwar 67 not out, Ali Waqas 46, Imran Farhat 33, Azeem Ghumman 22) vs SINDH.