Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2010-11: Habib Bank scores a thumping win over Islamabad
Habib Bank beat Islamabad by an innings and 45 runs at the Diamond Club Ground, in the sixth round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2010-11 (Division One).
Although Habib Bank suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Rawalpindi in the previous round, the team has been doing very well overall in Pakistani domestic cricket, competing with WAPDA and ZTBL for the top slot in Division
One. Islamabad, on the other hand, has recently lost the services of some its principle players. Despite this, however, the team has been fighting hard and giving a tough time to some of the major teams in the tournament.
Habib Bank captain and Test cricketer Hassan Raza won the toss and decided to bowl first in bowling-friendly conditions. The decision turned out to be a fantastic one as Islamabad were at 116 for the loss of nine wickets at one
stage before Islamabad all-rounder and former captain of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319. The partnership was broken when the latter was bowled out by international
player Kamran Hussain, but it had at least saved Islamabad from complete destruction and embarrassment. Islamabad was bowled out for 184 runs. Imad Wasim remained unbeaten on 76, in an innings that included 12 fours and two towering sixes. Test cricketer and
all-rounder http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Azhar-Mahmood-c1116 took a five-wicket haul for Habib Bank while left-arm medium pacer Kamran Hussain took three scalps.
In reply to Islamabad’s innings, Habib Bank posted 55 for the loss of three top-order batsmen. Then Saleem Elahi and Khaqan Arsal took charge of the innings and made sure HBL did not face any more scares in its first innings. Saleem,
who is the youngest of the cricketing Elahi brothers and has played 13 tests and 48 ODIs for Pakistan, was unlucky to miss his century by only three runs. Habib Bank’s best came from the lower order as Aftab Alam scored an unbeaten century batting at number
seven.
HBL piled up 484 runs on the board. Aftab Alam was the team’s top-scorer with 110 runs, which included 18 fours, and Saleem Elahi made 97 off 143 balls, out of which were 15 fours and a six. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khaqan-Arsal-c1789, Azhar Mahmood and Fahad
Masood also scored half-centuries for HBL. On the bowling side, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Fakhar-Hussain-c56759 picked up four wickets for Islamabad. Fast bowler Nasrullah Khan, who was the hero for Islamabad against Sui Gas, was not that effective this time round, only managing to pick up
two wickets for 124 runs.
In its second innings, Islamabad’s top order displayed a better performance than it had in its first innings. However, most of the batsmen took promising starts but failed to capitalize on them. Islamabad was dismissed for 255
runs in its second innings. Middle-order batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zeeshan-Mushtaq-c98588 and wicket-keeper Umair Mir scored half-centuries. The hero of the 1st innings, left-hander Imad Wasim, was unbeaten once again on 18 and again ran out of partners. Kamran Hussain
took four wickets in this innings and leg-spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314 bowled a tight spell of three for 81 in 23.1 overs. Fahad Masood and Ahmed Shehzad grabbed one wicket each.
Habib Bank therefore won the match by an innings and 45 runs and it was a thorough team effort by the experienced campaigners.
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