Lahore Region Blues chased down a 126-run target in the final innings against Rawalpindi at Pindi Cricket Stadium while Faisalabad beat FATA as both teams registered victories in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) 2023/24.
Rawalpindi, at Pindi Cricket Stadium, were 302 for eight in 93 overs. Taimur Khan (166 not out, 232b, 29x4sm 3x6s) helped the side get to 345 runs before they were bowled out in 109.3 overs.
Hunain Shah returned with four wickets. Kashif Bhatti had three wickets while Ali Shafiq got two to his name.
In return, Imran Butt-led Lahore Blues chased the required 126 with significant ease, losing only three wickets in the process which came courtesy of Kashif Ali and Awais Anwar.
The former got two while the latter got just one. Usman Salahuddin (39 not out, 52b, 8x4s) and Husnain Talat (32 not out, 34b, 6x4s, 1×6) were the high scorers for Lahore in the final innings, as the side won by seven wickets.
In another fifth-round QEAT fixture, FATA resumed their second innings from 156 for eight while chasing 308 at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. They could only get to 181 runs before they were bowled out in 66.4 overs.
Khurram Shahzad returned with four wickets. He was supported by Mohammad Abubakar Khan and Mohammad Shahzad Gul, who bagged three and two wickets respectively.
Efforts by Mohammad Sarwar Afridi (59, 143b, 8x4s) and Samiullah Jr (48, 97b, 6x4s) went in vain as the Faisalabad bowlers ran through the FATA line-up, ensuring that the side secured a comfortable win in the fifth round of the QEAT 2023-2024.
The 17th match of the ongoing edition of the QEAT between Lahore Region Whites and Peshawar ended in a draw.
Peshawar resumed their innings from 330 for two at Gaddafi Stadium on the final day of play in the fifth round.
Skipper Sahibzada Farhan and Kamran Ghulam, who both completed their centuries the previous day, were at the crease. Sahibzada scored a double century (245, 429b, 28x4s, 4x6s) while Kamran ended up with 154 runs scored from 361 balls, including 11 boundaries and a maximum.
Niaz Khan scored 89 runs from 78 balls including 13 boundaries, taking the score to 589, before the side was bowled out after batting for 174.3 overs.
Mohammad Rameez Jr got a six-fer for Lahore Whites. He was helped by Ali Zaryab Asif, who bagged two wickets. The match was drawn, with neither side getting to bat for the second time.
Meanwhile, another fifth-round QEAT fixture between Karachi Region Whites and Multan ended in a stalemate after Karachi could get to 243/3 while chasing a daunting 432.
Saim Ayub registered his maiden first-class century (142 not out, 248b, 12x4s, 1×6) which helped plummet his side to 243 runs in 82 overs. Khurram Manzoor (41, 126b, 6x4s) was the other contributor with the bat.
The side lost three wickets in the innings, courtesy of Ali Usman who returned with two wickets and spinner Zahid Mahmood who got one wicket. With no definitive result on the card, the two captains shook their hands as the match was drawn.
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