Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Round-up: September 27-30

Kaushik Kashyap

image-l8ounp4bQuaid-e-Azam Round 1 (PC: Twitter)

Pakistan’s premier domestic first-class tournament Quaid-e-Azam Trophy got off to a great start as it completed its first set of matches in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Abbottabad between September 27th to 30th. Let’s take a quick review of what transpired.

Balochistan vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Balochistan beat defending champions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa comprehensively by 134 runs in the first round at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.

While chasing 370 in the fourth innings, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa got bowled out for 235 in just 68.5 overs, courtesy to an excellent bowling performance from Balochistan on the final day.

Sahibzada Farhan and Kamran Ghulam top-scored with 63 and 61. Khurram Shahzad was the pick of the bowlers and finished with a 3-61.

Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Balochistan put on a formidable total of 473 in the first innings with five of their batters making half centuries. Arshad Iqbal continued to impress as he finished with a 4-fer and was KPK’s best bowler in the first innings.

In reply, KPK could manage 291 with Kamran Ghulam scoring his tenth first-class century. On the back of a 182-run lead in the first innings, Asad Shafiq and his men came all guns blazing on day 4, declaring on 187/5 and setting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa an unlikely 370 to win.

Result: Balochistan won by 134 runs