KARACHI: Right-arm pacer Niaz Khan’s five-wicket haul helped Peshawar to bowl out Sialkot for 245 on the second day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) 2024-25 final here at the UBL Sports Complex on Friday.
As a result, Peshawar secured a handy 13-run first innings lead, crucial in safeguarding their position if the five-day fixture ends in a draw.
Resuming their first innings from 8/0, Sialkot were soon reduced to 38/2 as their in-form opener Azan Awais (18) and Ashir Mehmood (five) walked back after making modest contributions.
Following the early blow, Mohsin Riaz joined Mohammad Huraira in the middle and launched recovery.
The duo added 102 runs for the third wicket until Huraira fall victim to Mohammad Amir Khan in the 48th over. He scored 55 off 127 balls with the help of five fours and a six.
Mohsin, on the other hand, fell four overs later after top-scoring for Sialkot with 57 off 130 deliveries, featuring 11 boundaries.
His dismissal sparked a collapse, which resulted in Peshawar losing their remaining five wickets for 99 runs despite number nine batter Shahzaib Bhatti’s fighting cameo.
Shahzaib smashed three fours and as many sixes on his way to a 47-ball 40.
Niaz Khan spearheaded Peshawar’s bowling charge with five wickets, followed by fellow pacer Mohammad Amir Khan, who took three.
In response, Peshawar only faced one over before the close of play scoring five runs and extending their lead to 18.
Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat, unbeaten one and four respectively, will resume Peshawar's second innings from 5/0 on the third day of the QEAT final.