Karachi, 18 October 2022: Muhammad Irfan Khan’s unbeaten century and half-century from Rizwan Hussain led Central Punjab to a three-wicket win over Northern at the NBP Sports Complex in Karachi in the fourth round match of the Cricket Associations Championship on Tuesday. This was Central Punjab’s third win in the tournament and they are currently leading the points table.
In the second match of the day, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh played out a drawn game at the KCCA Stadium.
Central Punjab v Northern
At the NBP Sports Complex, resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 137 for four, chasing 366 to win, Central Punjab successful chased down the target in the 87th over with three wickets in hand. Muhammad Irfan Khan and Rizwan Hussain resuming their innings at 22 and 77 runs, respectively stitched a 110-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Opening batter Rizwan missed out on his second century of the tournament by one run. His 99 off 144 balls included 14 fours. After the departure of Rizwan, Ameer Hamza followed back shortly scoring six runs.
The 20-year old Irfan was joined by Bilawal Bhatti and the pair knitted 156 runs for the seventh wicket. Irfan went on to score his first century in the tournament and returned undefeated on 146 off 213 balls, smashing 21 fours. Bilawal scored a 98-ball 62, hitting nine fours and one six.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Sindh
At the KCCA Stadium, resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 230 for four in 64 overs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa declared their innings at 256 for eight in 61 overs.
In return, chasing 358 to win, Sindh managed to score 204 for four in 68 overs when stumps were drawn. For Sindh, Ammad Alam and Mohammad Taha scored half-centuries.
On Monday, Balochistan had defeated Southern Punjab by nine wickets at the UBL Sports Complex.
The fifth round match of the tournament will be played from Friday, 21 October.
Scores in brief:
Central Punjab beat Northern by three wickets at the NBP Sports Complex, Karachi
Northern 283 all out, 81.1 overs (Hasan Raza 75, Ali Sarfraz 59; Bilal Asif 7-78, Nisar Ahmad 2-64) and 271 all out, 82.3 overs (Umair Masood 84, Ziad Khan 58, Hasan Raza 48; Bilawal Iqbal 3-52, Bilal Asif 3-100, Nisar Ahmed 2-44, Bilawal Bhatti 2-62)
Central Punjab 189 all out, 51.1 overs (Saif Badar 90 not out; Zaman Khan 5-57, Umer Khan 3-40, Munir Riaz 2-45) and 367-7, 86.4 overs (Muhammad Irfan Khan 146 not out, Rizwan Hussain 99, Bilawal Bhatti 62, Umar Akmal 30; Munir Riaz 2-65, Shadab Majeed 2-92)
Match drawn between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh at the KCCA Stadium, Karachi
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 319 all out, 103.3 overs (Israrullah 134, Mohammad Bilal 83; Danish Aziz 5-52, Majid Asghar 3-82) and 256-8dec, 61 overs (Mehran Ibrahim 63, Maaz Ahmed Sadaqat 53, Aamer Azmat 47; Arish Ali Khan 3-91, Danish Aziz 2-49)
Sindh 218 all out, 103 overs (Mohammad Suleman 96 not out, Rameez Aziz 62; Usman Tariq 6-79, Niaz Khan 2-28, Zeeshan Ahmed 2-49) and 204-4, 68 overs (Ammad Alam 68, Mohammad Taha 64; Zeeshan Ahmed 2-68)
