Lahore (Sports Desk): Batters dominated the opening day of the second phase of the President’s Trophy Grade-I, with five players scoring impressive centuries. MIT’s Mohammad Farooq, Salman Khan Junior and Atiq ur Rehman, Ghani’s Sharjeel Khan, and Kingsmen Academy’s Mohammad Tayyab Arif scored centuries.
At Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, MIT won the toss and elected to bat. Mohammad Farooq and Hasnain Nadeem added 133 runs for the first wicket. Hasnain was dismissed for 36, while Mohammad Farooq played an aggressive innings of 163 off 99 balls, including 11 fours and 14 sixes.
Farooq completed his century off just 67 balls and also broke Majid Khan’s record for most sixes by a Pakistani batter in a first-class innings. It was his third first-class century and second consecutive century.
After his dismissal, Atiq ur Rehman and Salman Khan Junior shared a 217-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Atiq scored 142, while Salman remained unbeaten on 106. MIT ended the day at 476 for 4.
At Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, Ghani bowled out SNGPL for 152. Shoaib Akhtar Junior took five wickets and Khurram Shahzad claimed four. In reply, Ghani reached 192 for 2, with Sharjeel Khan starring with a rapid 156. Sharjeel faced 120 balls, hitting 25 fours and five sixes.
At Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar, Kingsmen Academy were bowled out for 215 against OGDC. However, captain Mohammad Tayyab Arif scored 105 to complete his maiden first-class century. Mohammad Amir Khan took five wickets, while Mohammad Hasnain claimed three.
At Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, State Bank of Pakistan reached 278 for 9 against Pakistan Television by the end of the day. Hasan Raza scored 75, captain Mohammad Ghazi Ghouri made 66, and Rameez Aziz remained unbeaten on 42. For PTV, Musa Khan and Imad Butt took three wickets each, while Haris Rauf claimed two.