Afridi returns to first-class cricket with belligerent half-century

The Newspaper's Sports Reporter

Updated about an hour ago

Shahid Afridi. — AFP/File

KARACHI: Shahid Afridi marked his return to the first-class arena after a lapse of more than four years with a typically aggressive knock as Habib Bank dominated the first day of their Silver League clash against State Bank in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship on Thursday.

The Pakistan all-rounder, who had confined himself to limited-overs cricket since playing the Lord’s Test against Australia in July 2010, smashed 58 off 40 deliveries with five fours and a six while opening the innings as Habib Bank closed at 106-3 after bundling out State Bank for 120 at the Marghazar Cricket Stadium in Islamabad.

After being asked to bat by Imran Farhat, State Bank lost the first five wickets for just 23 runs before Mohtashim Ali (46 not out off 75 balls, five boundaries) lifted them to 120 all out. Umar Gul (3-54) and Fahad Masood (4-17 in 12 overs) caused most of the damage while Afridi bagged one wicket for 13 runs in four overs.

A captain’s knock of 105 (126 balls, nine fours and six sixes) from Fahim Ashraf helped Faisalabad Wolves make 232 before Abbottabad Falcons reached 10-0 at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan Television (PTV) rallied through a 113-run stand between Nawaz Ahmed (81) and Zeeshan Mushtaq (73) to collect 242-7 against KRL at the latter’s home ground in Rawalpindi.

Karachi Zebras were reeling at 47-4 after Hyderabad Hawks posted 260 here at the UBL Sports Complex. Faisal Athar (80) and Zeeshan Gul (68) added 150 for the fourth wicket after the visitors lost three early wickets.

Lahore Eagles struggled to 227-9 against Quetta Bears at the LCCA Ground in Lahore.

Bahawalpur Stags skipper Imranullah Aslam (5-37 and unbeaten 53) put his team on top against Sialkot Stallions at the Jinnah Stadium. The Stallions were bowled out for 185 before the Stags reached 116-1.

Close of play scores on Thursday (day one of four): Group-I:

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: HYDERABAD HAWKS 260 in 73.5 overs

(Faisal Athar 80, Zeeshan Gul 68; Zohaib Shera 4-90, Sohail Khan 3-18); KARACHI ZEBRAS 47-4 in 14 overs (Babar Khan 2-20, Naeem-ur-Rehman 2-22).

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: LAHORE EAGLES 227-9 in 91 overs (Jahanzeb Abdullah 57 not out; Jalat Khan 3-34, Gohar Faiz 3-62, Arun Lal 2-33) vs QUETTA BEARS.

At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi: PAKISTAN TELEVISION 242-7 in 74.4 overs (Nawaz Ahmed 81, Zeeshan Mushtaq 73, Mohammad Naeem 33; Saeed Anwar Jr 3-31, Ali Khan 2-40) vs KRL.

Group-II:

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: SIALKOT STALLIONS 185 in 48.1 overs (Bilal Hussain 88, Faisal Khan 33; Imranullah Aslam 5-37, Ansar Javed 2-24, Abdul Rehman 2-80); BAHAWALPUR STAGS 116-1 in 35 overs (Imranullah Aslam 53 not out, Adeel Basit 34).

At Marghazar Cricket Ground, Islamabad: STATE BANK 120 in 38 overs (Mohtashim Ali 46 not out; Fahad Masood 4-17, Umar Gul 3-54, Abdur Rehman 2-13, Shahid Afridi 1-17); HABIB BANK 106-3 in 18.2 overs (Shahid Afridi 58, Imran Farhat 28; Aamir Yamin 3-33).

At Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad: FAISALABAD WOLVES 232 in 60.1 overs (Fahim Ashraf 105, Sadaqat Ali 62; Aziz-ur-Rehman 3-47, Umair Khan 3-70, Sohail Akhtar 2-13); ABBOTTABAD FALCONS 10-0 in 3 overs.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2014