Rehman spins HBL into the lead

Left arm spinner Abdur Rehman took another five-wicket haul to help Habib Bank Limited (HBL) take a 79-run lead over the combined North West Frontier Province-Baluchistan team on the second day of the Pentangular Cup match at the NBP Sports Complex, Karachi.

Opener Wajid Ali carried his bat for a fighting 131 as resuming on their overnight 14 for one, NWFP-Baluchistan were left clueless against the spin of HBL. None of the other batsmen managed to cross the 20-run mark as HBL, with the title already in the bag, dismissed their opponents for 236. The 21-year-old Wajid batted for over four hours, hit 19 fours and a brace of sixes in his 197-ball knock.

For HBL, Abdur Rehman gave away 78 runs for his five wickets while Sulaman Qadir and Imran Farhat grabbed a couple each. At close of play, HBL had moved onto 117 for the loss of Rafatullah Mohmand, who grabbed a pair in the match, and Atab Alam (18). Farhat was not out on 58 and Qadir had moved onto 36.

Sind allrounder Rizwan Ahmed hit his third century of the season as his team was finally dismissed for 379 on the second day of the Pentangular Cup match against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) at the National Stadium, Karachi.

In reply, KRL had moved onto 193 for five wickets with the help of useful knocks from almost all their batsmen. Openers Azhar Ali (33) and Mohtashim Ali (61) provided a stand of 66 and even though Saeed bin Nasir was out cheaply for four, captain Mohammad Wasim batted sensibly to be unbeaten on 21 at close.

Earlier, Saeed Ajmal took six for 92 as Rizwan and Tanvir Ahmed (90) shared a 168-run sixth wicket partnership to guide bottom-placed Sind to a decent total.