ABBOTTABAD: Captain Sajid Khan recorded match figures of 10/99 and led Peshawar to a stunning 125-run victory over Lahore Whites in the second game of the triangular phase of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) 2024-25 here at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
The crushing victory boosted Peshawar’s chances of qualifying for the final as they now need Sialkot to beat Lahore in the final triangular game, scheduled to be held after the T20 Champions Cup.
Peshawar resumed their second innings of 14/3 with a useful lead of 130 runs but managed to add 127 runs to the total despite Nabi Gul’s anchoring knock.
Nabi hit 12 boundaries on his way to the top score for Peshawar with a 138-ball 83. He was involved in a crucial 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Sajjad Ibraheem, who was the other notable contributor with a 34-ball 27.
Mohammad Salman was Lahore’s standout bowler, taking three wickets, while Naseem Shah, Ubaid Shah and Ahmed Bashir bagged two wickets each.
Chasing a target of 257 runs, Lahore’s batting line-up struggled against Peshawar’s bowling attack led by Sajid and were eventually bowled out for 131 despite captain Saad Nasim’s half-century.
Coming out to bat at number seven with his side reeling at 37/5, Saad held firmly at one end but wickets continued to fall at the other.
The experienced batsman finally found notable support at the other end for a ninth-wicket fighting partnership with Mohammad Salman that yielded 57 runs.
His Peshawar counterpart Sajid, however, brought the curtains down on his defiant attack before dismissing Ahmed with a golden duck to guide his team to a much-needed victory.
Saad remained Lahore’s top scorer with 56 points, followed by goalkeeper Gauhar Hafeez (22) and Mohammad Salman (24*).
Sajid Khan took five wickets for 43 runs in the second innings, while Niaz Khan and Mir Hamza took three and two scalps respectively.
