LAHORE, Feb 19: Helped by an enterprising knock of 148 by the Test discard Shakeel Ahmad, Habib Bank (HBL) hit a respectable total of 310 for six in first innings on second day of the Patron's Cricket Trophy Grade I final against Allied Bank (ABL) at the Qadhafi Stadium on Thursday.
Shakeel Ahmad hit second first-class century of the season. Earlier, he had scored a hundred against National Bank at the National Stadium, Karachi.
Shakeel was involved in all the three productive partnerships of the day. He put on 111 runs for the second wicket stand along with Salim Elahi, who fell leg before wicket to Test off-spinner Arshad Khan at the total of 117 after laying a solid foundation of the HBL innings in 115 minutes.
Mujahid Jamshed proved another good partner of Shakeel Ahmad. Both added 74 runs for the third wicket in 106 minutes. Incidentally, Mujahid also fell to Arshad Khan when he was caught by Ata-ur-Rahman Junior at the total of 191.
Captain Salim Malik and Shakeel Ahmad then added 93 for the fourth wicket partnership in 131 minutes to carry the HBL total to 284. Both fell to the most successful bowler of the day, Taimur Khan.
In his most economical spell, Taimur took three wickets for 12 runs in his 11 immaculate overs, out of which six were maiden. Taimur broke the fourth-wicket partnership by having Shakeel Ahmad caught by wicketkeeper Iqbal Salim. In his 354-minutes stay at the crease, Shakeel Ahmad faced 250 deliveries and hit 21 boundaries to all parts of the ground. Only Taimur commanded respect from him.
Taimur clean bowled Salim Malik as the seasoned Test cricketer tried to drive an incoming delivery, missed its line and had his stumps rattled. Salim Malik stayed at the crease for 143 minutes, played 116 balls and hit only two boundaries in his knock of 43. He was out when well set for a big score.
In the same over, Taimur had wicketkeeper/batsman Tahir Rashid caught by wicketkeeper Iqbal Salim. The batsman edged the ball and Iqbal dived to his right to hold a brilliant catch. The fourth and fifth wickets fell at the total of 291. The Test all-rounders Naveed Anjum (18 with 3 fours) and Akram Raza (3) carried the total to 310 without any further loss. Arshad Khan gave away 58 runs and took two wickets.
Day 3: ABL struggling to avoid follow-on
LAHORE, Feb 20: Habib Bank Limited gained an upper hand on third day of the Patron's Trophy Grade-I cricket final compiling an imposing total of 399 and later claimed seven Allied Bank wickets for 145 at close of play here on Friday at the Qadhafi Stadiu.
Former Test all-rounder Naveed Anjum, resuming at his overnight score of 18, hit a fine knock of 70 to take HBL to a safe position. Naveed brought his vast experience to good use to handle the ABL bowling which included Test players like Aaqib Javed, Ata-ur-Rahman Senior, Aamir Nazir and Arshad Khan. Naveed hit three boundaries and also got five twice due to overthrows in his 113-minute stay at the crease in which he faced 90 deliveries.
Naveed Anjum found a good partner in Kabir Khan as both added 64 precious runs for eighth wicket partnership in only 81 minutes. Naveed fell leg before wicket to Test off-spinner Arshad Khan, who incidentally, emerged as the most successful ABL bowler by getting four wickets for 72. Arshad Khan took four wickets for 72, Taimur Khan had three wickets for 21, and Aaqib Javed dismissal two for 59.
The Habib Bank medium-pacer Shakeel Khan and off-spinner Akram Raza, virtually ran through the ABL first innings as they were 145 for seven. Shakeel Khan and Akram Raza took three wickets, each, for 28 and 27.
The only ABL batsman to put some resistance to pace-cum-spin attack of HBL was Wajahatullah who defied the immaculate bowling for 136 minutes to score 45. He hit six boundaries and two good sixes. But for his knock, the ABL side would have been bundled out for a dismal total. Wajahatullah was leg before wicket by Shakeel Khan. The lanky medium-pacer Shakeel also sent Iqbal Salim (caught by Akram Raza at 10) and Aamir Hanif back to the pavilion.
Akram Raza removed opener Ata-ur-Rahman Junior (22 on 109 balls) at the total of 66 to begin his demolition action in tandem with Shakeel. The batsman was deceived by a sharp off-break of Akram Raza and had his middle-stump tilted back. Later, Akram Raza had Ijaz Ahmad Junior (11) caught by Shakeel Khan and claimed Arshad Khan (3) leg before wicket.
Taimur Khan (15) and Ata-ur-Rahman Senior (3) will resume ABL first innings at 145 for 7 tomorrow. In this five-day final, ABL still needs 55 runs to avoid the follow-on with only three wickets intact.
Day 5: HBL beat ABL by 160 runs to lift Patron's Trophy
LAHORE, Feb 22: Habib Bank (HBL) emerged the Patron's Cricket Trophy Grade I champions as they inflicted a crushing 160 runs defeat over Allied Bank (ABL) on the last day of the five-day final at the Qadhafi Stadium on Sunday.
Needing a formidable target of 412 for victory, the ABL teamresumed their second innings in the morning with overnight total of 78 for two-- still in deficit of more 334 runs. But the ABL batsmen again failed to give resolute fight and were bundled out for 251, 30 minutes before tea in 62.4 overs.
HBL's captain Salim Malik received the glittering trophy and a cash prize of Rs 48,000/-. The ABL captain Aaqib Javed took the runners-up prize of Rs 24,000/-.
Paceman Sajid Shah who had been inducted in the Pakistan A team for the second Test against the touring Indian A team, was the wrecker-inchief of the trailing ABL team. He got eight wickets in the final three in the first innings and five in the second. Shah bowled economically in the first innings and conceded just 32 runs. He proved a little expensive in the second innings conceding 107 runs in the ABL's total of 251. Shakeel Khan ably supported Sajid Shah, claiming three wickets for 41. Paceman Navid Anjum and Shahid Afridi got one wicket each for 21 and two runs, respectively.
Wajahatullah Wasti (28) and Ata-ur-Rahman Senior (8) resumed the ABL's second innings with a daunting task ahead. But after adding only six runs, the ABL team suffered first blow when Ata-ur-Rahman Senior was caught by Shakeel Khan off Navid Anjum for 13.
Wasti who was the top-scorer of both ABL innings, with 45 runs in the first and 55 in the second which included six boundaries, found a good ally in Manzoor Akhtar. Together they collected useful 43 runs in their fourth wicket partnership which lasted for 71 minutes. Manzoor Akhtar was adjudged LBW off Shakeel Khan for 24 at the total of 127. He hit only one boundary during his 71 minutes stay at the crease.
With Test discard Ijaz Ahmad Junior as his new partner, Wasti crossed the 150-run mark. Three runs latter, the ABL suffered a big loss when the well-set Wasti was clean bowled by Sajid Shah after defying HBL bowlers for 118 minutes.
Ijaz Ahmad Junior and Taimur Khan's seventh wicket partnership of 54 runs in 46 minutes was the last resistance from the ABL side. Ijaz Ahmad Junior scored 46 laced with six fours. He remained at the wicket for 85 minutes. Taimur Khan scored rapid 25 with five fours. He faced only 27 balls.