Pentangular Cup, 4th round, 1st day

Tanvir's five gives Federal Areas the edge

Cricinfo staff

March 5, 2008

Federal Areas 119 for 3 (Majeed 72, Zaidi 24*, Ashraf 0*, Sohail 2-29) trail Sind 222 (Afridi 70, Naumanullah 53, Tanvir 5-58) by 103 runs
Scorecard

	Shahid Afridi smashed a 49-ball 70 but Sind managed only 222 in their first innings against Federal Areas in Islamabad © Getty Images

Federal Areas had an impressive first day against top-placed Sind in Islamabad, bundling them out for 222 and then scoring 119 for the loss of three wickets.

With his 5 for 58, Sohail Tanvir ensured Federal Areas made good first use of the pitch. Sind lost wickets at regular intervals, Tanvir removed two of the top four, while Yasir Arafat and Shehzad Azam took one apiece. A 71-ball 53 from Naumanullah held up one end for a while, but the knock of the innings came from Shahid Afridi, the Sind captain.

Coming in at No. 6, Afridi blasted 70 off 49 balls, with eight fours and three sixes. At 194 for 5, Sind were in with a chance to reach 300, but Saeed Ajmal and Tanvir triggered a collapse. Ajmal got rid of the dangerous Afridi, out caught-and-bowled, while Tanvir scalped Sarfraz Ahmed, Danish Kaneria and Sohail Khan. Ajmal, an offbreak bowler, took another wicket as well, but figures of 2 for 64 off six overs indicate he suffered the most during Afridi's onslaught.

Federal Areas made a strong reply with an 82-run opening stand, before Afridi removed Umair Khan for 19. Umair's partner Raheel Majeed did the bulk of the scoring, with 72 off 93 balls. Sohail Khan, who scythed the Baluchistan top order in the previous game, picked up two wickets before stumps to reduce Federal Areas from 114 for 1 to 119 for 3.

Baluchistan 298 for 7 (Arafat 62, Alam 84, Sadaf 36*) v Punjab
Scorecard

After being shot out for 42 against Sind last week, Baluchistan's batsmen did better against Punjab, managing 298 for 7 on the first day at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot.

However, Baluchistan frittered away the advantage, they were at 208 for 2 at one stage, but lost five wickets for 90 runs as Punjab fought back. A 121-run second-wicket stand between Yasir Arafat and Rameez Alam laid the platform for Baluchistan. Arafat made 62, while Alam scored 84 before he was bowled by Mohammad Hafeez.

Saeed Bin Nasir chipped in with 46, and wicketkeeper Gulraiz Sadaf ended the day unbeaten on 36. For Punjab, opening bowler Wahab Riaz was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 53.

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