Manzoor, Azhar make NBP struggle in QA Trophy final

KARACHI: Rookie paceman Manzoor Khan and Test batsman Azhar Ali shared five wickets between them as National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) batsmen struggled as they reached 239 for the loss of eight wickets in their first innings in their 5-day Quaid-e-Azam Cricket Trophy Gold League final against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) on Monday.

Left-arm pacer Manzoor ended the day with three top wickets for 42 runs in 20 overs and Azhar Ali grabbed two wickets for 35 runs in 11 overs here at the National Stadium.

Muhammad Nawaz and Umer Waheed shared a century-stand but NBP was unable to reach a big total against some tight bowling. Umar’s defiant 48 in 214 minutes included seven strikes to the boundary.

When play ended for the day former Test batsman Qasier Abbas was battling on an unbeaten 56 and his 121-ball knock was studded with half a dozen boundaries. Ahmed Jamal was batting on nine.

Unknown left arm pace-man Manzoor Khan jolted the powerful top order batting in his opening spell after SNGPL captain Toufeeq Umar won the toss and inserted bankers to bat first.

Moving and seaming the ball Manzoor removed Nasir Jamshed, Sami Aslam and Fawad Alam in 27 balls as NBP slumped to 26 3 in 12th over.

Nasir went to dubious umpiring judgement by Shozab Raza caught behind by Test discard Adnan Akmal. Fellow opener Sami Aslam was also caught behind for 13 and Manzoor sent Fawad stumps cart-wheeling with a superb in-swinger.

Muhammad Nawaz with Umer Waheed repaired the damage by sharing a 106 runs stand for the fourth wicket.

Pakistan Test batsman Azhar Ali broke the stand when Adnan Akaml smartly stumped Nawaz when he was beaten off a turning leg-break. Nawaz s fighting knock of 76 off 139 balls in 198 minutes was studded with 13 fours.

Before NBP could recover from the shock next ball Kamran Akmal was caught in the slip by substitute fielder Imran Butt as he try to drive a wide delivery from Azhar. (APP)