Every News: Salman’s ton in vain as KP-Balochistan match washed out

Salman’s ton in vain as KP-Balochistan match washed out
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KARACHI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s fine performance with the bat went in vain as their vital outing of the Pakistan Cup 2019 against Balochistan was washed out on Sunday due to rain and thunderstorm at the Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi.Both sides got one point each.Chasing a stiff target of 359, Balochistan had reached 129-3 in 17.5 overs when rain and thunderstorm halted the game which was eventually called off without any result. Both the sides now have five points each. They are yet to play one game each in the five-team event which will conclude on April 12.Earlier, batting heroics from skipper Salman Butt (133) and Abid Ali (95) guided KP to a huge total of 358-6 in the allotted 50 overs.After being invited to bat on the batting-friendly track, KP’s top order did a glorious job as it gradually constructed the innings before eventually staging a huge total. Salman, who returned to the squad after missing a game because of fitness issues, was in his element. The left-handed 34-year-old Test cricketer provided a 168-run opening stand to KP with Abid, who recently struck a hundred on his One-day International debut against Australia in the UAE.Right-arm quick Haris Rauf, one of the finds of PSL-4, provided the much-needed breakthrough to Balochistan when he trapped Abid leg-before just five runs short of his century.Abid, who was dropped by international left-arm pacer Mohammad Irfan off his own bowling when on one, hammered four sweetly-timed sixes and 14 fours in his 77-ball epic knock. Abid had scored just one run off the first 18 balls he faced. But after that he took the centrestage and started scoring quickly.Salman added 93 runs for the second wicket with Adil Amin, who smacked one six and seven fours in his 44-ball 50 before being held by medium-pacer Amad Butt who took a well-judged catch off his own bowling.This was the 13th fifty from the 28-year-old Peshawar-born Adil. Salman, who lost his wicket in the 47th over, completed his century off 106 balls. Salman also got a chance when on 50 wicket-keeper Waqar Hussain missed a stumping chance off the bowling of Asad Shafiq.Salman hammered 16 fours and one six in his 132-ball knock before being run out. This was the 24th List A century from Salman in his 204th outing. Khushdil Shah struck a 12-ball 20, Zohaib Khan made 15 and Sohail Khan hammered 11-ball 14 not out to take their side to a huge total.Haris Rauf (2-70 in 10) and Amad Butt (2-77 in 10) were the successful bowlers.In response, Balochistan had an electrifying start when Awais Zia (84*) and Zeeshan Ashraf (26) provided a 92-run opening stand in 11.2 overs to put pressure on KP.Medium-pacer Umaid Asif got rid of Zeeshan, who struck five fours from 24 balls. Pakistan’s out-of-favour left-arm Test pacer Wahab Riaz (1-18 in 5) then sent skipper Asad (1) back, getting him caught by stumper Adnan Akmal to leave Balochistan at 100-2 in the 13th over.Umaid then got rid of Umar Akmal (7) to bring KP back in the game. Umar hammered one four from eight balls.Umaid had picked 2-37 in 4.5 overs when the match was stopped due to rain.KP skipper Salman Butt said that it was good that both sides got one point each.Khalid Mehmood and Zameer Haider supervised the match. Mohammad Javed was the match referee.On Monday (today), Punjab will face Federal Areas at 2pm.