Quaid-e-Azam Cricket Trophy: Adnan equals National record
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

KARACHI: Youthful wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal equalled his brother Kamran Akmal and Wasim Bari’s national record of seven catches for Lahore Blues (LB) on the opening day of his team’s Quaid-e-Azam Cricket Trophy match against Karachi Blues (KB) at National Stadium Wednesday.

On the day when as many as 18 wickets crumbled on a greenish and bouncy track, 20-year-old Adnan achieved the landmark with a superb keeping.

Sent to bat first, pace duo of Sajid Ali and Wasim Khan, shot out for 104 in their first innings. Left arm medium fast bowler Sajid took five wickets for 46 runs in 13.1 overs and Wasim snapped-up four for 33 in 17 overs.

At draw of stumps in the four-day match, LB in reply were reeling at 99 for eight, just five adrift of KB total.

KB made a disastrous start as they slumped to 11 for four wicket, losing four wickets in 15 balls. Southpaw Sajid was destroyer in chief taking three wickets in 12 balls with Naumanullah and Hasan Raza going for naughts.

Only two KB batsmen Farhan Iqbal 38 with four 4s and two 6s in 130 minutes and Tanvir Ahmed 16 reached double figures.

Opener Tariq Haroon, who is known for his batting skills, triggered the collapse in LB batting ranks with three wickets for ten runs in 11 deadly overs with seven maidens.

LB made a steady start by fifty for three but their next four wicket tumbled for 33 runs and slumped to 99 for 8.

Opener Kashif Siddique top-scored with 23 laced with three hits to the ropes and pacer Wasim Khan fell on the last ball of day for 22 that included four scorching boundaries.

Tariq got good support from Tanvir Ahmed and Tabish Khan, who got two wickets each.●