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Day 1: Afridi restricts Pindi to 186 with 4/35

KARACHI, Feb 22: Fine bowling by Test all-rounder Shahid Afridi put leaders Karachi Whites in a strong position against Rawalpindi on the opening day of the four-day Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-I National Cricket Championship clash at the UBL Sports Complex here on Monday.

Afridi captured four for 35 in 24 overs with his brisk leg-spin to restrict Rawalpindi to a moderate score of 186 in their first innings.

Afridi returned to Karachi, along with Moin Khan and Nadeem Khan, last evening from the first leg of the Indian tour.

The all-rounder appeared to be in fine touch with the willow during his brief stay at the crease as he remained unbeaten with 20 off only 19 balls in Karachi Whites' total of 65 for one at stumps.

In fact, Afridi's opening stroke was a tremendous six, which went out of the ground at deep square leg, when he pulled medium-pacer Pervez Iqbal after blocking the first ball.

Shadab Kabir is batting on 23 after fellow left-handed opener Zafar Jadoon holed out to Munawwar Abbasi in the covers off Pervez Iqbal for 20.

Lanky speedster Lal Faraz gave his side a fine start when he removed Rawalpindi's openers Pervez Iqbal and Munawwar Abbasi for ducks after Karachi Whites skipper Aamir Hanif had opted to field first.

Test reject Mohammad Wasim stemmed the rot with a fine knock of 51 off 75 deliveries until he was fifth out at 82 when Zeeshan Pervez at silly-point took an easy catch off Test left-arm spinner Nadeem Khan. The elegant right-hander struck eight boundaries during a stay of 101 minutes.

Afridi took wickets off successive balls when he won LBW appeals against Naeem Akhtar and the Rawalpindi captain Nadeem Abbasi as the visitors plummeted to 107 for seven.

Veteran Shahid Javed compiled a patient 36 off 111 deliveries in 121 minutes with just one boundary. But it took an enterprising last wicket partnership of 38 in 37 minutes between Shakeel Ahmed and Jawwad Hameed, who hit two sixes and as many fours, which lifted the score from 148 for nine to 186 all out.

Lal Faraz finished with figures of three for 39 while Nadeem claimed two for 46.