Mubasir, Hammad hit tons to dent Sindh’s hopes of staying in final race

KARACHI: Sindh’s outside chance of staying in contention for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final came to an abrupt halt on Thursday when rearguard centuries from Hammad Azam and Mubasir Khan guided Northern to safety.

The eighth-round game was very much alive until Wednesday evening as Northern wobbled to 126-4 — with opener Sarmad Bhatti already retiring hurt — and still needing 185 runs to avoid innings defeat. But Hammad and Mubasir not only blunted the Sindh bowlers but also reached three figures while sharing a magnificent fifth-wicket partnership of 296 before Northern posted 423-6 in their second innings.

Discarded Pakistan all-rounder Hammad repeated his century-act against Sindh — he scored 100 not out against them during the first-round fixture at the UBL Sports Complex in early November — by making 145 with his 226-ball innings, lasting 339 minutes, including 13 fours and two sixes.

But undoubtedly Northern’s real find this season is the 18-year-old Mubasir, who couldn’t have dreamt of making instant impact on his first-class debut as the right-hander followed his useful 26 on day one by hitting up 164 in 306 minutes as he slammed 24 boundaries during his memorable 241-ball contribution.

In the matches concluding inside three days on Wednesday, runaway leaders Khyber Pakhtunkhwa whipped Southern Punjab by 10 wickets and the resurgent reigning champions Central Punjab crushed Balochistan by nine wickets.

Sindh are now hopelessly placed fifth with 79 points, while Northern regain their second spot with 111 points as all six teams prepare to clash in the penultimate round from Sunday.

Scores and result on Thursday (final day of four):

First XI, eighth round:

At National Stadium, Karachi: Match drawn.

NORTHERN 203 in 68.2 overs (Mohammad Nawaz 79, Jamal Anwar 51, Mubasir Khan 26; Azizullah 3-48, Shahnawaz Dhani 3-49, Mir Hamza 3-52) and 423-6 in 120 overs (Mubasir Khan 164, Hammad Azam 145, Faizan Riaz 31, Sarmad Bhatti 24 not out; Shahnawaz Dhani 3-93); SINDH 514-8 declared in 143.1 overs (Sharjeel Khan 133, Asad Shafiq 117 not out, Saud Shakeel 81, Saad Ali 44, Saad Khan 41, Shehzar Mohammad 28, Mir Hamza 20; Mohammad Nawaz 5-108).