Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023-24: Abdul Faseeh's century ensures first win for Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi: An unbeaten century from Abdul Faseeh led Rawalpindi to a seven-wicket win over Faisalabad in the fourth round match of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023-24 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sunday.

This was Rawalpindi’s first win in the tournament.

Sarfaraz Ahmed struck an unbeaten double century in a drawn game between Karachi Whites and Lahore Whites at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Peshawar were led to their second win in the tournament after defeating Lahore Blues by three wickets at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. Meanwhile, FATA played out a drawn game against Multan after being enforced a follow-on at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Faisalabad v Rawalpindi, Pindi Cricket Stadium

Rawalpindi successfully chased down the 204-run target on the back of an unbeaten century by opening batter Abdul Faseeh (109 not out, 163b, 17x4s).

Resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 190 for two in 48 overs, it took 7.3 more overs for Rawalpindi to achieve the target, losing Ashfaq Ahmed’s wicket in the process, who was dismissed by Mohammad Ali for 40 off 49 balls, hitting seven fours.

Lahore Blues v Peshawar at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad

Peshawar defeated Lahore Blues by three wickets to earn their second win of the tournament. Chasing a modest 190-run for victory, Peshawar lost seven wickets in process and achieved the target in the 63rd over. For the winning team, Kamran Ghulam top-scored with a 99-ball 50, hitting five boundaries. Israrullah was other notable run-getter, scoring 30 off 78 balls, which included three fours.

For the losing side, Kashif Bhatti and Waqas Ahmed bagged two wickets each.

Earlier, after resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 149 for seven, Lahore Blues were dismissed for 215 in 68.2 overs.

Karachi Whites v Lahore Whites at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

In a drawn game, Sarfaraz Ahmed’s unbeaten double century and 151 from Rameez Aziz allowed Karachi Whites to put a huge 784 runs on the scoreboard in reply to Lahore Whites’ first innings score of 509 for nine declared in 137.2 overs.

Resuming their first innings at the overnight score of 432 for four in 125 overs, an unbroken 351-run partnership between Sarfaraz and Rameez for the sixth wicket was the highlight of the day. Sarfaraz scored unbeaten 200 off 236 balls, which included 24 fours and a six, while Rameez scored an undefeated 151 off 264 balls, hitting 15 fours and two sixes.

FATA v Multan at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

In another drawn game, FATA after being enforced a follow-on were 336 for nine in 128.3 overs when stumps were drawn. Mohammad Irfan Khan was the notable run-getter for the side, scoring 84 off 177 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes.

For Multan, Aamer Yamin, Hamayun Altaf and Zahid Mehmood bagged two wickets each.

Earlier, FATA had resumed their second innings at the overnight score of 167 for three in 50 overs.

Scores in brief (Day four of four):

Rawalpindi beat Faisalabad by seven wickets at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Faisalabad 112 all out, 39.3 overs (Ali Waqas 26; Mohammad Faizan 5-35, Mohammad Awais 3-29) and 234 all out, 74.4 overs (Mohammad Huraira 87, Abu Bakar Khan 67; Mohammad Faizan 4-84, Mohammad Awais 2-37, Kashif Ali 2-73)

Rawalpindi 144 all out, 56.3 overs (Zeeshan Malik 108; Faheem Ashraf 5-12, Khurram Shahzad 2-46, Mohammad Ali 2-56) and 204-3, 55.3 overs (Abdul Faseeh 109 not out, Ashfaq Ahmed)

Peshawar beat Lahore Blues by three wickets at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad

Lahore Blues 334 all out, 85.1 overs (Hussain Talat 87, Junaid Ali 82, Kashif Bhatti 69; Niaz Khan 3-73, Mohammad Ilyas 3-81, Sajid Khan 2-91) and 215 all out, 68.2 overs (Nisar Ahmed 48, Usman Salahuddin 44, Junaid Ali 39; Niaz Khan 3-52, Sajid Khan 2-18, Abbas Afridi 2-54, Mohammad Ilyas 2-74)

Peshawar Region 360 all out, 95.4 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 132, Kamran Ghulam 43, Sajid Khan 39, Maaz Sadaqat 38; Kashif Bhatti 4-59, Waqas Ahmed 3-87, Shadab Majeed 2-68) and 192-7, 62.2 overs (Kamran Ghulam 50, Israrullah 30)

Match drawn between FATA and Multan at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Multan 529-5 (declare), 111.4 overs (Zain Abbas 292, Mohammad Basit 150; Sameen Gul 2-75)

FATA 348 all out, 90.2 overs (Rehan Afridi 164, Akif Javed 53 not out, Mohammad Sarwar 51; Zahid Mahmood 5-135, Aamir Yamin 2-52) and 336-9 (follow-on), 128.3 overs (Mohammad Irfan Khan 84, Salman Khan Jnr 76, Rehan Afridi 29; Hamayun Altaf 2-23, Aamer Yamin 2-29, Zahid Mehmood 2-88)

Match drawn between Karachi Whites and Lahore Whites at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Lahore Whites 509-9 (declare), 137.2 overs (Ali Zaryab 222, Fahad Munir 72, Ahmed Shehzad 65, Saad Nasim 61; Noman Ali 6-162)

Karachi Whites 784-5, 206.2 overs (Sarfaraz Ahmed 200 not out, Rameez Aziz 151 not out, Asad Shafiq 113, Khurram Manzoor 110, Ammad Alam 102, Fahad Iqbal 61; Saad Nasim 2-112)