Sharjeel Khan helped Ghani take the first innings lead on the back of a stellar 156 against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited in the President’s Trophy Grade-I.
Sharjeel Khan helps Ghani attain crucial lead
Sharjeel, who scored 59 in the opening clash against Khan Research Laboratories, walked out at three with Ghani trailing by 148 in the first innings. He wiped off the deficit, stitching a 186-run stand alongside Khawaja Arham (56). Sharjeel hit 25 fours and five sixes – in other words, he scored 130 of his 156 runs in boundaries.
After breaking the shackles with a punch through cover point off the sixth delivery he faced, Sharjeel made his intentions clear when he went for a big heave off the very next delivery, only to find an inside edge to the fine-leg boundary. He scored his first 34 runs in boundaries alone (seven fours and a six).
Sharjeel got to his hundred off 76 deliveries in the 23rd over of the first innings on Day One. He helped Ghani clear the deficit and convert it into a lead with a six down the ground in the 30th over off Sajid Khan. He was finally dismissed by Shahnawaz Dahani in the 38th over when he tried to come down the track in search of a six and ended up skying the ball.
Crucial fifties from Mohammad Rameez Jr and Mohsin Riaz helped Ghani put up 409, attaining a lead of 257. Haseebullah, who scored a hundred in the opening fixture, also contributed with 42. Dahani scalped three wickets, while Sajid and Khan Zeb came up with two each.
Also read: 4-14 to 336 chased: Debutant slams 149* from No.7 in stunning Australia One-Day Cup turnaround
Earlier, Shoaib Akhtar Jr and Khurram Shahzad ran riot for Ghani, dismantling Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited batting order for 152. Akhtar picked up five wickets and Shahzad four as Sameer Minhas (53) and Mohammad Imran (52) were the only batters to offer resistance.
At the time of writing this article, Northern Gas Pipelines were 106-2 off 22 overs in the second innings, still trailing by 151. Sameer Minhas and Omair Bin Yousuf were out in the middle, on 67 and five respectively.
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