Younis blasts century to give UBL solid start

KARACHI: Pakistan’s highly experienced batsman Younis Khan blasted a superb unbeaten 144 to guide United Bank Limited (UBL) to 373-3 in their first innings against Karachi Whites on the opening day of their second round Group-II outing of the Super Eight stage of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy here at NBP Sports Complex on Sunday.

The 38-year-old struck 19 well-timed boundaries in his unfinished 175-ball feat.

Younis, who is the highest run-getter for Pakistan with 9116 runs in 104 Tests, shared 152 runs for the third wicket with left-handed opener Shan Masood (81).

He then added 132 for the fourth wicket unbroken stand with hard-hitting international batsman Sohaib Maqsood (58*) to put his side in a strong position.

Shan hammered 11 fours and two sixes from 176 balls. Sohaib struck eight fours in his 90-ball unfinished knock.

Shan and left-handed pinch-hitter Sharjeel Khan (66) provided an 89-run opening stand after UBL opted to bat first.

Left-arm rookie pacer Ghulam Mudassir, who removed Sharjeel and Umair Khan (0), captured 2-83 from 18 overs.

Experienced medium pacer Babar Rehman, who had missed the previous game, clinched 1-52 from 17 overs.

In the other game of Group-II, here at National Stadium, Umar Amin blasted 111 not out to enable Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to pile up 272-9 in their first innings against National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) who tasted a 67-run defeat at the hands of UBL in their first round game last week.

Amin, who struck 16 fours from 207 balls in his 14th first-class century, held one end as wickets kept falling at regular intervals.

The left-handed Test batsman shared 55 runs for the fourth wicket with Asif Zakir (25), who struck three fours from 52 deliveries.

Sohail Khan (30) also provided support to his skipper, hammering three fours and a six from 48 deliveries.

Fast bowler Ahmed Jamal chipped in with 3-54. Off-spinner Adnan Rasool took 2-55, which included the prized scalp of international Awais Zia (16).

In a Group-I outing at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, Test pacer Aizaz Cheema captured 5-53 from 24.1 overs to enable Lahore Blues to dismiss Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) for only 158 in their first innings.

Abdul Rehman Muzammil, who batted at No 7, scored 60 off 107 balls, hitting 11 fours.

Shoaib Ahmed (15) and Usman Arshad (12) were the other main contributors.

Aizaz was backed by medium-pacer Bilawal Iqbal (3-47) and Ahmed Bashir (2-44).

In response, at stumps, Lahore Blues were reeling at 23-3. Pacer Mohammad Abbas took 2-11.

In the other Group-I clash, here at UBL Sports Complex, international Iftikhar Ahmed struck solid 77 to guide WAPDA to 274-6 in their first innings against the last three seasons’ champions Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).

Iftikhar, who played two One-day Internationals against England in the UAE recently, struck nine fours and a six in his 100-ball fifty before being held by Pakistan’s premier leg-spinner Yasir Shah off his own bowling.

Skipper Aamer Sajad (55*) and Adnan Raees (52) then added 94 for the fifth wicket to stabilise the innings.

Aamer hammered six fours from 152 balls and Adnan clobbered nine fours in his 88-ball useful knock.

Yasir, playing his first game in the season, took 3-101 in 31 overs.

International medium pacers Asad Ali and Bilawal Bhatti took one wicket each.

The second round matches were started a day before their original schedule because of Eid Milad-un-Nabi which falls on Thursday.