Punjab batsmen dominate on first day

ESPNcricinfo staff

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Punjab finished firmly on top after the first day of their match against Sind at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, reaching 347 for 3 with each of their top four batsmen crossing fifty. The previous match at the ground had finished in three days with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province scoring 111 and 89 in their two innings, but the batsmen enjoyed the wicket on Saturday. Imran Farhat scored 75 at the top, and was involved in a 112-run opening partnership with captain Taufeeq Umar, who scored 50. The openers were out in quick succession, but Azhar Ali and Mohammad Ayub added 335. Azhar was out for 92, but Ayub completed his century, finishing on 117 not out at stumps.

Half-centuries from Saeed Anwar junior, Gulraiz Sadaf and Rizwan Haider helped Baluchistan recover from a poor start to 320 for 9, against Federal Areas on the first day at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Seamer Nasrullah Khan struck early for Federal Areas, before Shoaib Khan junior and Anwar junior put together 60 for the second wicket. Shoaib was out for 43, and three wickets fell quickly, leaving Baluchistan 88 for 5. Anwar junior and Sadaf stitched together a 114-run stand, with Anwar junior scoring 95 and Sadaf 68. Haider kept the momentum going with his 61 and Baluchistan ended the day in a decent position, considering the last game to be played at the ground was a fairly low-scoring affair.