Date-stamped : 19 Oct97 - 06:25
Day 2 Report

PIA in deep trouble 

Sports Correspondent 

LAHORE, Oct 18: A fiery bowling by right-arm paceman Shabbir Ahmad and 
responsible knock by Adil Nisar of Pakistan WAPDA, put PIA in deep 
trouble as they had lost five top-order batsmen in first innings for a 
paltry total 49, in the Patron's Trophy Grade I match which started on 
its second day at the LCCA ground on Saturday, after the first day had 
been washed out due to rain. 

Replying WAPDA's first innings total of 253, PIA, despite having the 
services of Test and International discarded viz captain Aamir Malik, 
Shoaib Muhammad and Ghulam Ali failed to face Shabbir Ahmad with 
authority. The only man who could defy Shabbir was Test discarded Asif 
Mujtaba. 

Shabbir, bowling with nagging length drew the first blood when dismissed 
Ghulam Ali for duck. He was caught at third slip by Yousuf Yuhana before 
PIA opened its account. 

Another paceman, Naseer Shaukat enhanced PIA problems when removed the 
new man Sohail Jafar also for duck at the total of one. He was 
brilliantly caught by wicket-keeper Zahid Umar while chasing a sharp 
out-swing while facing the first ball. 

From here onwards, Shabir Ahmad posed constant threat on the rivals. 
First, he got the prize wicket of opener Shoaib Muhammad (6) at the 
total 15. The double-minded Shoaib Muhammad surprinsgly had checked his 
stroke while hooking only to see the lofted ball straight went into the 
save hands of Adil Nisar, at gully. 

Asif Mujataba, however, tried his best to control the situation, but he 
did not receive any support from the other end. 

Shabbir struck again when dismissed Aamir Malik for 3, making the 
situation alarming 25/4. Malik mis-judged an in-swinger and saw his 
stumps tumbling. Mahmood Ahmad was the next victim of Shabbir. He was 
adjudged lbw for naught at the total of 31. Afterwards, Asif Mujataba 
(26) and Javed Qadeer saw off the day. Mujtaba had faced 61 balls during 
valiant 81 minutes stay at the crease. He had cracked four boundaries. 
Shabbir bowled economically. He had capturedfour wickets for 9 runs. 
Naseer Shaukat paid 27 for one wicket. 

Forced to bat first by PIA's captain Aamir Malik, WAPDA took a flying 
start of 40 through Ejaz Mahmood and Adil Nisar. But, paceman Adnan 
Naeem halted the smooth running when removed two batsmen on successive 
deliveries at the same total. First he removed Ejaz Mahmood (17) and 
then new man Tariq Aziz (0). Yousuf Yuhana (10) and Shahid Mansoor (00) 
threw their wickets cheaply, making a worse position 4/88. 

Adil Nisar, however, found a reliable ally in Zahid Umar. Their fifth 
wicket partnership yielded valuable 43 runs in 32 minutes. But, quick 
dismissals of Mahmood (61) and Zahid Umar (27) within the space of six 
runs, shattered WAPDA dream for a big total. Nisar was caught and bowled 
by Test discarded leg- spinner Nadeem Khan. He hit 11 elegant strokes to 
the fence and faced 62 ball in 123 minutes. Zahid Umar made quick fire 
27, studded with five fours. 

Two more useful partnerships by the lower-order batsmen helped WAPDA to 
finish at a respectable total. Naseer Shaukat (29) and Shahid Aslam (15) 
produced breezy 45 runs in 42 minutes in their seventh wicket 
collaboration. After Aslam, Shaukat with Ameem Abbas (21) collected 42 
runs in 53 minutes long eight wicket partnership. 

PIA's paceman Adnan Naeem and leg-spinner Nadeem Khan took three wickets 
each. Pacemen Ashfaque Ahmad and Nadeem Afzal took two wickets each. 

Source::  Dawn (http://dawn.com/)

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