ABBOTTABAD: Northern outclassed Balochistan by 10 wickets in the round three fixture of the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23, while Sindh versus Southern Punjab (SP) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) versus Central Punjab (CP) matches ended in draws.
Balochistan, resuming at 136/5, requiring a further 168 to make Northern bat, saw their batter Hussain Talat putting on a remarkable fight as he smashed an unbeaten century and powered his side to add 200 runs before bundling out for 336.
Set to chase a mere 33, Northern took just 43 balls to seal a comprehensive 10-wicket victory and carried on their domination in the standings.
The last four Balochistan wickets accumulated 107 runs, with Hussain dominating the scoring.
The left-handed batter struck an unbeaten 115 from 178 balls with 15 fours and two sixes. He also put on 93 runs for the sixth wicket with Khurram Shahzad (59 from 89 balls with 11 fours).
Northern’s Mubasir Khan bettered his 3/18 with 3/50 for a match haul of six wickets for 68 runs.
At the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Sindh held SP for a draw courtesy of an unbeaten century from Omair Bin Yousuf, while young Saim Ayub missed his maiden century by five runs in tense second innings.
Sindh resuming their 381 run chase at 57/0, managed to finish the final day at 326/7. Omair’s 110 came off 192 balls and contained 15 fours, while Saim’s 138-ball 95 included 12 fours and two sixes.
For SP, Mohammad Abbas bagged three wickets, while Ahmed Bashir returned with 2/53.
The third-round fixture between defending champions KP and CP at Iqbal Stadium also ended in a draw as the persistent rain and wet outfield halted one-and-a-half day’s play.
Following no action on the third day, CP resumed their first innings at 173/4 in response to KP’s 220 and could only add 101 runs before bundling out for 274.
Khalid Usman and Test spinner Sajid Khan rattled the CP batting attack as they bagged six and four wickets respectively.
Starting their second innings with a 54-run deficit, KP were 174/3 at the conclusion of the final day despite a dismal start.
Sahibzada Farhan, who scored an unbeaten century, put on a 142-run partnership with Rehan Afridi (54*) and made sure to protect his side from any stutter.
Farhan’s undefeated hundred came off 121 balls and included 13 fours and a six.
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