National Bank and Sui Gas are probably the top teams in the domestic cricket of Pakistan since last 5 years but both these teams are not doing that well in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
The basic reason behind their mediocre performance is that these two teams did not have the services of their best players, as they were busy with the national team’s tour of UAE. National Bank and Sui Gas met in the 7th round of the Quaid-e-Azam
Trophy at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. The match was in a very interesting position when the rain hit Faisalabad and destroyed the 3rd and the 4th day’s play and as a result the match ended without a result.
Captain of Sui Gas and Pakistan’s Test opener Muhammad Hafeez won the toss and following the usual pattern in the domestic cricket of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, invited National Bank to bat 1st on a green track. National Bank were bundled out for 155 runs. Although
a low score but considering the conditions it was a competitive one. Left handed opener, Nasir Jamshed showed good defensive technique on a bowling paradise for his 40 runs off 82 balls in which he struck 7 fours. Captain Kamran Akmal also batted well under
trying circumstances for his 31.
Asad Ali and Zulqarnain grabbed 3 wickets each for Sui Gas, whereas, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Samiullah-c88304 Niazi, Imran Ali and Muhammad Hafeez picked up a wicket each.
In reply, Sui Gas failed to match the 1st innings effort of National Bank and got bowled out for 135 and conceded a 1st innings lead of 20 runs to National Bank, with those 3 crucial points as well. Although, Muhammad Hafeez and Naeemuddin
gave a solid opening stand of 43 runs to Sui Gas, but the middle-order batsmen failed to capitalise on the good start. Naeemuddin remained the top-scorer for Sui Gas with a well-made 48 which included 6 boundaries.
Just like Sui Gas, National Bank’s bowlers also shared the wickets and complemented each other well. Uzair ul Haq and Mohammad Imran took 3 wickets each. Seasoned campaigner, Wasim Khan grabbed 2 wickets and Mohammad Talha also picked up a wicket for his
team.
National Bank’s 2nd innings was of to a great start as Nasir Jamshed and the right-hander Rashid Riaz secured National Bank’s position with a 97 run stand for the 1st wicket. But Faisalabad bounced back with 4 quick wickets for only
12 runs and had National Bank tottering at 109 for 4 when the rain stopped the proceedings and no further play was possible in the match. Nasir Jamshed and Rashid Riaz scored 44 and 38 respectively.
For Sui Gas, Zulqarnain picked up a couple of wickets alongside Asad Ali and Imran Ali who grabbed 1 wicket each.
Although it was a low scoring draw hampered by the weather but there were some gutsy performances in between, especially in the batting as scoring 40 in difficult conditions is more valuable than a hundred on a flat track.
Tags: