Karachi: Hasan Ali’s quickfire half-century and eight wickets against Balochistan on day two of the Eighth round have put defending champions Central Punjab close to registering their third consecutive in Quaid-e-Azam (QeA) Trophy.
The 26-year-old smashed an unbeaten 50 off 33 balls to guide his team to 369 before he recorded his 10th fifer in first-class cricket, which bundled out Balochistan for a mere 130 and took three more wickets after enforcing the follow-on.
Balochistan is struggling at 130 for six in their second innings and need another 109 runs to make CP bat again.
Hasan hit four sixes and as many fours to record his third half-century and second of the season after Central Punjab resumed the day at 297 for six. Balochistan’ Jalat Khan stood out with six for 116. This was left-arm orthodox’s third five-wicket haul of the season.
Balochistan only batted 38.2 overs courtesy of Hasan, who claimed 5/32 in 9.2 overs. Skipper dismissed Akbar-ur-Rehman (25), Jalat Khan (one), Mohammad Talha (two), Raza-ul-Hasan (0) and Gohar Faiz (0). Left-arm pacer Waqas Maqsood took three wickets for 38.
WATCH: Hasan Ali smashes 33-ball half-century against Balochistan
Wicketkeeper-batsman Adnan Akmal and captain Imran Farhat were the only batsmen to resist Central Punjab bowlers with 33 not out and 30.
Hasan enforced the follow-on and again led the attack from the front, taking 3/43. Similarly, Waqas continued to impress by taking two wickets.
At the UBL Sports Complex, Southern Punjab were struggling at 145 for five in reply of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s daunting 487.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan once again shined as he took three wickets for 45 runs from 13 overs, while Arshad Iqbal and Khalid Usman picked a wicket each.
Opener Zain Abbas (64) and Salman Ali Agha (45), Southern Punjab’s highest run-getter, were the notable run-getters. SP are 342 runs behind KP and Zain will be accompanied by Ali Usman (six not out) on the third morning of the fixture.
Earlier, Adil Amin converted his overnight score of 76 into his career’s fourth first-class century as he scored a brilliant 172. The 30-year-old faced 330 balls and smashed 15 fours and three sixes.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa started the day’s play at 296 for three and Adil had in-form Kamran Ghulam as his partner who added 15 runs to his yesterday’s score before he was dismissed by leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood, who recorded his career’s fifth five-wicket haul with six for 163, on 160.
The pair stretched their 211-run stand from the opening day’s play to 239 before Zahid came into action and rolled over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s middle and lower-order.
In the broadcast match at National Stadium, opener Sharjeel Khan’s century have Sindh a 150-run first innings lead over Northern
The left-hander struck 17 fours and three sixes in his 164-ball knock. His second century of the season has placed Sindh at a comfortable total of 353 for five.
Sharjeel posted partnerships worth 87 and 91 with Azizullah (16) and Saud Shakeel (81) after Sindh started the day on 40 for one.
Saad Khan and skipper Asad Shafiq further consolidated Sindh in the match. Saad Khan scored 41 while Asad is unbeaten at 46.
Read: Kamran Ghulam scores third consecutive century as KP cruises to 296-3
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