Punjab bat out a draw against KRL
A round-up of the fourth day's play of Pentangular Cup matches, April 12, 2007
Cricinfo staff
12-Apr-2007
The Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) and Punjab third round match of the Pentangular Cup 2007 ended in a draw on a hot Karachi afternoon here at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex.
Punjab gained a useful 136 run lead in the first innings as KRL were all out for 397 after resuming on their overnight score of 382 for the loss of eight wickets. Shehzad Butt (32) and Akhtar Ayub (10), the two not out batsmen, were both dismissed by Adnan Rasool as he finished with two wickets for 57 runs from his 19 overs.
Punjab's second innings failed to get off to a good start as both openers were back in the pavilion with only 16 on the board. Mohammad Irshad picked up both the wickets as Mohammad Hafeez went for two while Mohammad Ayub failed to score.
A 77-run third wicket partnership between Bilal Khilji and the in-form captain Misbah-ul-Haq stabilised the innings temporarily but wickets fell regularly after their dismissal and Punjab finished the day on 208 for the loss of eight wickets. Misbah top-scored with 62 and Bilal managed a useful 41 before becoming one of Saeed Ajmal's five victims. Wicket keeper Zulqarnain Haider chipped in with 43 to ensure Punjab bat out the day.
Ajmal finished with five for 66 to add to his two wickets in the first innings and Mohammad Irshad bagged a brace.
The penultimate round of matches will begin on April 15 with Habib Bank Limited taking on Sind while North West Frontier Province-Baluchistan will face Punjab.