KARACHI – Peshawar bundled out Sialkot for 245 on the second day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25 final at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi on Friday.
Peshawar gained a 13-run first innings lead safeguarding their position if the final ends in a draw.
Niaz Khan picked up 5-61 and fellow pacer Amir Khan took 3-38. Niaz, who sent down 26 overs in the innings, took his tally of wickets to 35 in the tournament – second best to Musa Khan (38) – with his fourth first-class five-for.
Sialkot lost their prolific opening batter Azan Awais (18) and Ashir Mehmood (5) early in the first session with 38 runs on the board after resuming from their overnight score of eight for no loss.
At this juncture, Mohammad Huraira (55) joined forces with Mohsin Riaz (57) to stitch a dogged 102-run third-wicket partnership. With Huraira’s departure, Sialkot slipped to 198-8 and then 245 all out, losing eight wickets for 105 runs.
Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti chipped in with 26 while Shahzaib Bhatti’s 47-ball 40 helped Sialkot erase much of the deficit. Apart from the pace duo of Niaz and Amir, skipper Sajid Khan dismissed one batter.
In turn, Peshawar only faced one over before the close of play scoring five runs and extending their lead to 18.
