KP forced to follow-on after Yasir Shah’s 34th first-class five-wicket haul

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s woes amplified on the third day of their four-day first-class match against Balochistan at the Multan Cricket Stadium as Yasir Shah’s 34th five-wicket haul forced them to follow-on in the ongoing sixth round of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were bundled for 215 in reply of Balochistan’s imposing 487 for seven as the Test leg-spinner returned five for 57 in 18.1 overs. Only three Khyber Pakhtunkhwa batters scored above 20 with Sajid Khan and Sahibzada Farhan scoring half-centuries – 68 off 116 and 62 off 117, respectively – and opener Waqar Ahmed making 24 off 33.

Yasir added two more wickets to his tally before the end of day’s play as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lost three wickets for 137. Yasir sent Waqar Ahmed (36) and Maaz Sadaqat (0) back to the pavilion. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa need another 135 runs to avoid an innings defeat. Kamran Ghulam (38 off 53) and Rehan Afridi (23 off 31) will resume the innings on the final day tomorrow.

Despite a fighting century by wicketkeeper Rohail Nazir, Northern face the possibility of being asked to follow-on by Southern Punjab as they were still 33 runs away with only one wicket in hand.

Northern were lifted to 334 for nine after they resumed their day at a precarious 94 for four and lost their fifth wicket without any addition to the total when Mohammad Abbas, who recorded a five-wicket haul, sent Mohammad Huraira back to the pavilion.

Abbas also became 30th Pakistani bowler to breach the 600-first-class-wicket mark today.

Rohail, former Pakistan U19 captain, made 100 not out off 240 (15 fours and a six) and stitched crucial partnerships worth 81 for the sixth wicket with Mubasir Khan (74) and 116 for the eighth wicket with Nauman Ali (38).

But, the fast bowling pair of Abbas (five for 85) and Sameen Gul (three for 56) was too hot to handle for Northern. Southern Punjab captain Hasan Ali picked up the other wicket.

Saad Khan’s brilliant unbeaten century helped Sindh turn around their contest against Central Punjab at the Pindi Cricket Stadium as they were 300 for four at stumps after starting the day with a trail of 116.

In what was his fourth first-class century and first of the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Saad made 139 not out off 222 balls, hitting 23 fours and a six.

Pakistan Test batter Fawad Alam missed his century by 17 runs as he was dismissed for 83. The left-hander played 96 balls and stroked 13 boundaries.

The pair of Saad and Fawad stitched a crucial 153-run fourth wicket partnership. They came together with Sindh 147 for three.

Scores in brief:

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elect to bowl against Balochistan at the Multan Cricket Stadium

Balochistan 487-7d, 142.3 overs (Hussain Talat 112, Haseebullah 100 not out, Asad Shafiq 88, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 59, Haris Sohail 42, Imam-ul-Haq 33; Sajid Khan 3-155)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 215 all out, 64.1 overs (Sajid Khan 68, Sahibzada Farhan 62, Waqar Ahmed 24; Yasir Shah 5-54, Akif Javed 3-59) and 137-3, 35 overs (Kamran Ghulam 38 not out, Waqar Ahmed 36, Israrullah 31, Rehan Afridi 23 not out; Yasir Shah 2-37)

Toss uncontested – Northern elect to bowl against Southern Punjab at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium

Southern Punjab 566-7d, 122 overs (Usman Salahuddin 126, Umar Siddiq 117, Salman Ali Agha 103 not out, Hasan Ali 53, Ali Usman 38 not out, Muhammad Imran 29; Kashif Ali 2-110, Athar Mehmood 2-158)

Northern 334-9, 102.4 overs (Rohail Nazir 100 not out, Mohammad Huraira 39, Nauman Ali 38, Aamir Jamal 28; Mohammad Abbas 5-85, Sameen Gul 3-56)

Toss uncontested – Central Punjab elect to bowl against Sindh at Pindi Cricket Stadium

Sindh 188 all out, 56 overs (Saad Khan 29, Saim Ayub 26, Zahid Mehmood 24, Muhammad Umar 23, Sarfaraz Ahmed 22; Aamer Yamin 5-54) and 300-4, 77.3 overs (Saad Khan 139 not out, Fawad Alam 84, Faraz Ali 34)

Central Punjab 305 all out, 95.5 overs (Aamer Yamin 63, Ali Shan 55 not out, Azhar Ali 48, Qasim Akram 47, Abid Ali 44; Abrar Ahmed 4-82, Muhammad Umar 3-63, Mir Hamza 2-69.