Bureau Report
Karachi: Zahid Mahmood’s brilliant performance with the ball steered Southern Punjab to an emphatic win over Northern by an inning and 96 runs in Quaid-e-Azam (QeA) Trophy first-round at NBP Sports Complex.
The 32-year-old registered his maiden first-class 10-wicket haul, claiming 4/41 and 6/57 in two innings, respectively. Mohammad Abbas was the other recognizable bowler by picking up 2/44. Northern was dismissed for 246 in the second inning.
Last year’s runners-up Northern started Day 3 at overnight score of 31-3 with Faizan Riaz and Asif Ali on the crease. Zahid removed both the batters in quick succession after they posted a 76-run stand for the fourth wicket. Faizan made 36 while Asif scored 39.
All-rounder Hammad Azam was the top-scorer for Northern with 79 runs powered by eight fours and two sixes. Skipper Nauman Ali made 32 off 26 balls.
Yesterday, Southern Punjab’s top-order batsman Hussain Talat smashed his maiden double-century to guide his team to take a 342-runs lead.
Hussain smashed 33 boundaries and six maximums to score 253 runs. On the other end, skipper Shan Masood scored 134 runs off 185 deliveries with the help of 17 boundaries. The duo scored 185 runs together to put a solid second-wicket stand. Opener Umar Siddique contributed 40 while Bilawal Bhatti notched 31 runs off 44 balls including three boundaries and a six. Nauman Ali bagged four wickets while Athar Mahmood took three scalps for Northern.
