The Water and Power Development Authority first innings in their President’s Cup match against Sahir Associates bore a most unusual look.
Six ducks, 237-run stand, 43 extras
The WAPDA first innings unfolded in most unusual manner after Sahir Associates captain Asim Ali won the toss and opted to field at the United Bank Limited Sports Complex in Karachi. Having lost both openers, they were 0-2 when Sharoon Siraj joined Mohammad Ammar.
The pair put on 70 before Siraj was run out for 31. Khan Zaib, who had struck earlier in the innings, now took two more wickets before another run could be added, and WAPDA became 70-5.
Captain Khalid Usman now made 93 from No.7, helping Ammar (147) put on 237 for the sixth wicket. Once the partnership broke, however, WAPDA collapsed from 307-5 to 323 all out. This included a five-ball nine from No.10 Mohammad Zeeshan – the only other batter to score other than Ammar, Usman, and Siraj.
Six of the other seven batters fell for ducks: the other, No.9 Muhammad Adil, remained unbeaten without scoring. In all, there were only five scores at which WAPDA lost wickets – two on 0, three on 70, one on 307, and two on each of 314 and 323. Zaib finished with 4-81 and Razaullah with 4-55.
Ammar and Usman’s 237-run stand amounted to 73.4 per cent of the team total. In the history of first-class cricket, there have been only two higher team totals that included a partnership from sixth wicket (or lower) that contributed a higher percentage.
At Hobart in 2000/01, Ridley Jacobs and Brian Lara put on 365 for the sixth wicket in the touring West Indians’ total of 492 (74.44 per cent) against Australia A. And at Lord’s in 2010, Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad added 332 for the eighth wicket out of England’s 446 (74.19 per cent) against Pakistan.
Match 9, Sahir Associates vs Water and Power Development Authority
vs
- Ball by ball Over
58-run stand, nine single-digit scores
Sahir’s response was just as lopsided. Captain Asim Ali top-scored with 58 and Mohammed Saleem made 21, but they were the only ones to reach even five as Sahir collapsed to 103. Coming together at 24-3, Asim and Saleem put on 58 before Sahir collapsed against Naqeebullah (3-16), Adil (4-24), and Zeeshan (3-23).
Adil (3-65) and Zeeshan (6-66) then routed Sahir again, this time for 188, after Usman enforced the follow-on. WAPDA won by an innings and 32 runs.
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