Sialkot, Peshawar and FATA bagged wins in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy’s seventh round on Thursday.
Peshawar bagged a crucial 85-run victory over fifth-placed Lahore Whites at the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, stirring up the race for the tournament final with their fourth victory.
Lahore Whites, in pursuit of a 253-run target, were bowled out for 167 as player of the match Sajid registered his 21st first-class five-for, matching his first innings outing of 5-82 in 30 overs with 5-60 in 16.2 overs.
At one point, Whites slipped to 31-5 before Khawaja Abdullah (52) and opening batter Ali Zaryab (43) churned 56 runs for the sixth wicket before the duo was dismissed by Sajid, who then cleaned up the tail as well.
Earlier, Peshawar resumed their second innings from overnight score of 108-2 and a lead of 123 runs before another Test spinner, Noman Ali’s 33rd first-class five-for (33-3-112-5) reined them in at 237 all out. Noman finished with nine wickets in the match.
Sialkot cemented their position at the top of the table by handing Multan a thumping 204-run defeat, while also registering their fourth win in the tournament, on the penultimate day of the game at the Marghzar Cricket Stadium in Islamabad.
Requiring another 288 runs to win and 103-2 at the start of the day, Multan again fell prey to Sialkot’s spin web as off-spinner Hamza Nazar (19-1-64-5) – who bagged his maiden first-class five-for – and Mehran Mumtaz (22-7-70-4) combined to take nine wickets.
Sialkot just took 24 overs on day three to wrap up Multan’s innings for 186, having faced 54 overs as they lost eight wickets for 83 runs. Mehran returned a bag of nine wickets in the match and was named player of the match.
FATA reaped a crushing innings and 86-run win over Bahawalpur to bag their second triumph in the tournament at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar. On day three, Bahawalpur began following on after incurring a 250-run first innings deficit on day two, and were bundled out for 164 in 41.1.
For FATA, pacer Sirajuddin and Hayatullah picked up three wickets each, while player of the match Khushdil Shah and Asif Afridi dismissed two batters each. Off-spinner Hayat ended up with nine wickets in the match.
