Peshawar take lead in Quaid Trophy final

KARACHI: Fast bowler Niaz Khan picked up 5-61 to help Peshawar bundle out Sialkot for 245 in 85 overs on the second day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25 final at the UBL Sports Complex here on Friday.

Peshawar gained a 13-run first innings lead. If the final ends in a draw, Peshawar will lift the trophy. Pacer Mohammad Amir Khan backed up his fellow fast bowler’s heroics with three wickets for 38 runs in 21 overs. Niaz, who sent down 26 overs in the innings, took his tally of wickets to 35 in the tournament – second best to Musa Khan (38) – with his fourth first-class five-for.

Sialkot lost their prolific opening batter Azan Awais for 18 runs and Ashir Mehmood for 5 runs early in the first session with 38 runs on the board in 14.3 overs after resuming from their overnight score of eight for no loss.

At this juncture, Mohammad Huraira batted well and scored 55 runs with five boundaries and one towering six. He also established 102 runs partnership with Mohsin Raza for third wicket. Mohsin Raza played with responsibility and scored 57 runs with the help of eleven boundaries.

With Huraira’s departure in the 48th over, Sialkot slipped to 198-8 and then were 245 all out, losing eight wickets for 105 runs. Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti chipped in with 26 off 75 balls, batting at No. 6. Shahzaib Bhatti’s 47-ball 40, including three fours and as many sixes, while batting at No. 9, helped Sialkot erase much of the deficit. Sajid Khan dismissed one batter. In turn, Peshawar only faced one over before the close of play scoring five runs and extending their lead to 18.