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ISLAMABAD, Sept 18: Rawalpindi were well placed to qualify for the semifinals of the National Junior (Under-19) Grade-I Cricket Championship after collecting three points in their game against Lahore Whites that ended in a draw at the Pindi Stadium Wednesday.

Play began at 2.40pm on the third day after Tuesday's rain washed out the entire second day of this match. But in whatever little was possible, Rawalpindi who resumed at 83 for seven, put on 150 in 59.2 overs thereby taking a 62-run first innings lead.

Waqas Zafar, 38 not out on Monday completed his half century striking four boundaries and a six in his 122-ball knock while Shahid Mahmood remained unbeaten on 44.

Asif Ijaz captured five for 52 and Imran Siddiqui took three for 56.

Lahore were 52 for four off 16 overs in their second innings when play ended, paceman Najaf Shah snapping up two for 19 to finish with a match haul of seven for 57. The left-arm paceman troubled the rival batsmen all through the match that had seen the visitors crash for just 88 in their first innings.

Rawalpindi who now have 24 points will take on Bahawalpur in their next match which is a home tie at the Pindi Stadium.

Meanwhile at the Shalimar Ground in Islamabad, the home side walked off with three points after sending Fata crashing for 170 to take a 39-run lead.

The Islamabad bowlers did well in routing the visiting team despite play starting as late as 3.30pm on the last day after Tuesday went barren because of rain.

Replying to Islamabad's 209 for nine, FATA began the day at 58 for one but there was little they could do against paceman Saif-ur-Rahman, Shakir Mahmood and Mohammad Adnan, all of whom took three wickets apiece.

Johar Hussain top-scored with 73 with Naveed Ahmed making a 25-run contribution.

After this drawn match, Islamabad with a total of six points thus far, are due to play Sheikhupura at the same venue while point-less FATA face Kohat in Kohat.

Our Sports Correspondent adds from Lahore:

Sheikhupura, with 27 points, entered the semifinals from pool 'B' after their fourth round match against Karachi Blues ended in a draw at SheikhupuraStadium.

The second qualifiers from this pool will be decided after the match between Karachi Blues and Lahore Blues, scheduled for Lahore Country Club ground, Muridke from Sept 21.

Karachi Blues, who had 15 points so far, need an outright victory in that match.

Lahore Blues's win over Kohat takes points tally to 26.

A five-wicket haul by off-spinner Aftab Ahmedhelped Karachi Whites defeat Bahawalpur by eightwickets at Bahawalpur Stadium.

Quetta registered their first win in the championship when they beat defending champions Peshawar by seven wickets at National Stadium in Karachi.

Quetta, who were set a simple target of 138 in 72 overs, romped home for the loss of three wickets in 40.5 overs.

Earlier, Peshawar which resumed at overnight second innings score of 191 for nine, frustrated Quetta bowlers for sometime as Mohammad Ramzan and Sajid Saeed added 49 for the last wicket.

Peshawar's innings was finally terminated when Sajid was run out for nine.

Summarised scores:

*At Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi:

Match drawn.

LAHORE WHITES 88 in 45.2 overs (Najaf Shah 5-38, Saad Altaf 4-31) and 52-4 in 16 overs;

RAWALPINDI 150 in 59.2 overs (Waqas Zafar 50, Shahid Mahmood 44 not out; Asif Ijaz 5-52, Imran Siddiqui 3-56).

*At Shalimar Ground, Islamabad:

Match drawn.

ISLAMABAD 209-9 in 80 overs (Danish Hanif 56, Shehryar Butt 35 not out, Usman Nabi 35; Riaz Afridi 5-68);

FATA 170 in 46.1 overs (Johar Hussain 73; Saif-ur-Rahman 3-33, Shakir Mahmood 3-35, Mohammad Adnan 3-41).

*At Sheikhupura Stadium, Sheikhupura:

Match drawn.

SHEIKHUPURA 265 in 73 overs (Javed Hussain 93, Shahid Siddique 51; Mohammad Ali Zafar 5-83) and 241 (Javed Hussain41; Fawwad Alam 3-43);

KARACHI BLUES 236 in 76.2overs (Khurram Manzoor 61, Naveed Khan 59, Mohammad Ali Zafar 51; Ali Aslam 5-58, Nawaz Sardar 4-54) and 124-3 (Naveed Khan 54 not out; Nawaz Sardar 3-21).

*At Lahore Country Club, Muridke:

Lahore Blues beat Kohat by an innings and 53 runs.

KOHAT 74 in 31 overs (Zeeshan Safeer 3-7, Azhar Ali 3-27) and 120 (Azhar Ali 5-22);

LAHORE BLUES 247-5 declared in 48 overs (Fahad-ul-Haq 92, Anwar Hafeez 51 not out).

*At Bahawalpur Stadium, Bahawalpur:

Karachi Whites beat Bahawalpur by eight wickets.

BAHAWALPUR 169 in 78.3 overs (Asif Iqbal 77; Aftab Ahmed 7-61) and 207 (Asif Iqbal 117; Aftab Ahmed 5-77).

KARACHI WHITES 239 in 79.1 overs (Naeem Ahmed 40; Mohammad Adnan 3-33, Asif Imran Raza 3-80) and 138-2 (Khalid Latif 52).

*At National Stadium, Karachi:

Quetta beat Peshawar by seven wickets.

PESHAWAR 178 (Abdul Nasir 70; Mohammad Qasim 5-49) and 219-9 (Abdul Nasir 51, Fayyazullah 46, Mohammad Ramzan 33 not out; Mohammad Qasim 3-58);

QUETTA 260 (Arun Lal 53, Shoaib Khan 51, Shaukat Ali 43; Aftab Khan 6-95, Zohaib Khan 3-58) and 138-3 (Ehteshamuddin 60, Shoaib Khan 42).

© Dawn