LAHORE: Saad Khan scored an unbeaten century in Bahawalpur’s eight-wicket victory over Karachi, while a 10-wicket haul by fast bowler Mohammad Abbas set up an easy six-wicket win for Lahore over Multan on day three of the four-day Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches on Saturday.

Saad Khan returned unbeaten on 103, while Mohammad Ammar scored 70 not out as the two batters put on 166 runs for the unbroken third wicket to steer Bahawalpur to 213 for the loss of two wickets at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar. Bahawalpur, after conceding a 102-run first innings lead, had resumed their run chase this morning at 35 for one.

Saad, who hit his maiden tournament century but still leads the field with 523 runs, faced 103 balls and struck 17 fours. Ammar, in contrast, was watchful – scoring his 70 from 164 balls with four fours.

This was Bahawalpur’s first win in five matches, while for Karachi, it was their second loss. In the sixth-round action, Bahawalpur will take on Sialkot in Abbottabad, whereas Karachi will meet Peshawar at the Marghzar Cricket Ground.

MOHAMMAD ABBAS ON SONG FOR LAHORE

Test fast bowler Mohammad Abbas followed up his first innings figures of 15.4-5-32-5 with 26-9-51-5 to spearhead Lahore to a six-wicket victory over Multan at the Marghzar Cricket Ground. This was the 14th time in 205 matches that he had taken 10 wickets or more in a match. He also had taken 50 five-wicket hauls in an innings.

Abbas’s efforts, which were supported by three for 42 by Aamir Jamal and Nisar Ahmed (two for 60), enabled Lahore to bowl Multan out for 199 after the Southern Punjab side had resumed their second innings at 122 for three – leading Lahore by just three runs.

After adding 77 runs to their overnight score, Multan set Lahore 81 runs target which they achieved for the loss of four wickets in 17.3 overs.

This was Lahore’s first win and Multan’s second loss. In the next round, starting 5 November, Lahore will face Faisalabad at the Diamond Cricket Ground, while Multan will take on Islamabad at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar.

KHUSHDIL’S 156 AFTER FATA FOLLOW-ON

Khushdil Shah stroked an electrifying 159 off 150 balls with 22 fours and two sixes to give FATA some hope in their match against Islamabad. In reply to Islamabad’s 432, FATA resumed their first innings at 213 and were all-out for 281. Forced to follow-on after trailing by 151 runs, FATA were 284 for four to lead Islamabad by 133 runs with six wickets remaining.

Khushdil added 233 runs for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Sarwar, who was batting on 71. He had faced 143 balls and hit eight fours. The two had joined hands at 42 for three.

Earlier, Rehan Afridi missed his eighth career century by nine runs when fell to Mohammad Shayan Sheikh (three for 26) after scoring a 98-ball 91 with 14 fours and two sixes. He had started at 71. In partnership with Sameen Gul (43), Rehan added 50 runs for the eighth wicket.

Hunain Shah failed to add any more wicket to his last evening’s four to finish with four for 104, while Musa Khan added one more wicket to end up with three for 61.

SHAHZAIB RESCUES ABBOTTABAD WITH 131

Opener Shahzaib Khan stroked a maiden first-class century to help Abbottabad avoid the anomaly of an innings defeat against Sialkot at the Diamond Cricket Ground.

After Abbottabad were bundled out for 92 in reply to Sialkot’s 385, they ended the penultimate day’s play at 331 for eight after starting at 37 for one. Abbottabad lead Sialkot by 38 runs with two wickets standing.

Shahzaib, who was 20 overnight, became one of the two Mohammad Hasnain victims after scoring 131 with 20 fours and a six. He faced 237 balls and put on 131 runs for the seventh wicket with Khalid Usman, who contributed a priceless 83 from 97 balls with eight fours and five sixes.

Sialkot’s Mohammad Ali was the pick of bowlers with three for 61.

FAISALABAD ON TOP OF PESHAWAR

Faisalabad were in sight of their second win when leaders Peshawar finished the third day’s play leading by 106 runs and four wickets remaining.

Replying to Peshawar’s 320, Faisalabad resumed this morning at 309 for seven and were all-out for 384 to secure 64 runs lead. Faham Ul Haq, who was 137 overnight, was dismissed after scoring 157 from 326 balls with 18 fours. Test off-spinner Sajid Khan was the most impressive Peshawar bowler with three for 84.

When play ended on Saturday, Peshawar were 170 for six with Iftikhar Ahmed, who scored 131 in the first innings, batting on 54. Afaq Ahmed Afridi and Jahandad Khan picked up three wickets each.

Scores in brief (fifth round, day 3 of 4):

Peshawar v Faisalabad, Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium

PESHAWAR 320 all-out, 84.1 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 131, Mohammad Haris 88, Niaz Khan 34, Khurram Shahzad 3-90, Sardar Hassan Raza 2-43, Jahandad Khan 2-56, Ahmad Safi Abdullah 2-57) and 170-6 (Iftikhar Ahmed 54 not out, Mohammad Haris 38, Waqar Ahmed 37; Afaq Ahmed Afridi 3-36, Jahandad Khan 2-35)

FAISALABAD (overnight 309-7, 94 overs) 384 all-out, 121.4 overs (Faham ul Haq 157, Sardar Hasan Raza 40, Asim Ali Nasir 38, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 35, Taimur Khan 24, Awais Zafar 20; Sajid Khan 3-84, Iftikhar Ahmed 2-60, Niaz Khan 2-86)

Sialkot v Abbottabad, Diamond Cricket Ground

SIALKOT 385 all-out, 107.1 overs (Azan Awais 123, Abdullah Shafique 62, Mohsin Riaz 60, Afzal Manzoor 51, Hassan Ali 23; Shahnawaz Dahani 5-86, Israr Hussain 4-117)

ABBOTTABAD 92 all-out, 34.5 overs (Shahzaib Khan 39; Mohammad Hasnain 5-22, Hassan Ali 3-14, Mohammad Ali 2-27) and 331-8 (Shahzaib Khan 131, Khalid Usman 83, Ahmed Khan 39, Mohammad Suleman 22; Mohammad Ali 3-61, Mohammad Hasnain 2-34)

Islamabad v FATA, Abbottabad Cricket Stadium

ISLAMABAD 432, 103 overs (Sarmad Bhatti 150 not out, Rohail Nazir 101, Umar Riaz 34; Akif Javed 4-121, Arshadullah 3-109, Sameen Gul 2-83)

FATA (overnight 213-7, 38.2 overs) 281 all-out, 55.3 overs (Rehan Afridi 91, Sameen Gul 43, Mohammad Naeem 41, Mohammad Farooq 36, Khushdil Shah 20; Hunain Shah 4-104, Mohammad Shayan Sheikh 3-26, Mohammad Musa Khan 3-61) and 284-4 (Khushdil Shah 159, Mohammad Sarwar 71 not out, Kaleem Dil 2-70)

Bahawalpur beat Karachi by eight wickets, Imran Khan Cricket Stadium

KARACHI 217 all-out, 56.3 overs (Saad Biag 73, Omair Bin Yousuf 70, Saqib Khan 40; Mohammad Azab 5-70, Zaman Khan 2-52, Gulfam Aziz 2-33) and 110 all-out (Omair Bin Yousuf 76; Gulfam Aziz 3-27, Mohammad Azab 2-29, Imran Randhawa 2-38)

BAHAWALPUR 115 all-out (Saad Khan 61; Saqib Khan 4-42, Mohammad Umar 3-34, Mohammad Hamza 2-28) and 215-2 (Saad Khan 103 not out, Mohammad Ammar 70 not out)

Lahore beat Multan by six wickets, Marghzar Cricket Ground

Multan 164 all-out, 43.4 overs (Arafat Minhas 45, Bismillah Khan 32, Imran Butt 30; Mohammad Abbas 5-32, Aamir Jamal 3-58) and 199 (Imran Butt 71, Waqar Hussain 49; Mohammad Abbas 5-51, Aamir Jamal 3-42, Nisar Ahmed 2-60)

Lahore 283 all-out, 74 overs (Qasim Akram 61, Ali Zaryab Asif 57, Amir Jamal 45, Nisar Ahmed 33, Junaid Ali 26, Mohammad Abbas 22; Mohammad Ismail 3-85, Arafat Minhas 2-22, Kashif Ali 2-55, Mohammad Shan 2-75) and 84-4 (Nisar Ahmed 24 not out; Kashif Ali 2-33)