RAWALPINDI: Balochistan batter Imam-ul-Haq scored a vital century, while skipper Asad Shafiq scored a gritty knock of 62* and propelled their side to force a draw in the second-round fixture against Central Punjab (CP) of the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23.

Balochistan began the final day of their second-round fixture at 137/1 with a 213-run deficit.

Imam, resuming on 72*, converted his overnight score into a valiant century before walking back after scoring 108. The left-handed batter smashed 13 fours in his 231-ball innings.

Following Imam’s dismissal, Balochistan skipper Asad led his team’s fightback and added 63 runs for the fifth wicket with Ali Waqas (25 off 64), denying CP bowlers any more inroads.

Asad remained undefeated on 62 from 140 deliveries at the conclusion of the action, leading Balochistan to 303 for six in 118 overs.

Meanwhile, at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, the second-round fixture between defending champions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Southern Punjab (SP) also ended in a draw as SP could finish at 101/2 while chasing 266.

KP batter Kamran Ghulam missed what could have been his second consecutive century by 14 runs. The right-handed batter made 86 off 175 (10 fours and two sixes) before Ahmed Bashir ended his stay at the crease.

Another second-round fixture of QEAT ended in a draw as Sindh were 160/4 in their second innings at the conclusion of the final day.

Earlier, Northern started the day on 363/6 and finished on 417, with Nauman’s 123-ball 65 being the highlight of the day (nine fours and two sixes).

Following this, Sindh started their second innings with a 40-run lead and at one stage were 23/3 but Saad Khan and Fawad Alam, with 72 and 60 not out, respectively, denied any trouble and powered the side to finish the match as a draw.

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