Test right-hander Younis Khan hit a fine century to salvage HabibBank’s tarnished image as PIA neared a certain victory on the secondday of the Patron’s Trophy National Cricket Championship Grade-I matchat Gaddafi Stadium Thursday

05-Oct-2001Test right-hander Younis Khan hit a fine century to salvage HabibBank’s tarnished image as PIA neared a certain victory on the secondday of the Patron’s Trophy National Cricket Championship Grade-I matchat Gaddafi Stadium Thursday.After PIA had taken a substantial lead of 242, Habib Bank, who made apaltry 27 in their first innings Wednesday, gave a much improvedperformance in their second outing to reach 298 for nine. Younisbatted patiently for 263 minutes in making 117 until he was eighth outat 293 to end a dogged partnership of 78 with skipper Akram Raza. His160-ball innings was spiced with 17 fours.There was only one other significant partnership in the innings.Shahid Afridi, batting down the order, caned 51 off 39 deliveries inhis familiar whirlwind style of batsmanship while adding 82 withYounis. Akram Raza is holding the fort with a defiant unbeaten 47 off54 deliveries. He has so far hit six boundaries.Fazl-e-Akbar, who claimed four wickets in four balls on his way toseven for 13 Wednesday, once proved Habib Bank’s main destroyer withfive wickets. But his 21.5 overs cost 115 runs.Test all-rounder Abdur Razzaq the other main wicket-taker in thesecond innings with a return of three for 102 in 22 overs. Wasim Akramwas yet to turn his arm over in the second innings. Earlier, PIA’slast three wickets added 47 to the overnight score of 269. Moin Khanfell after adding two more to his 19 while Wasim Akram also perishedfor 23 after resuming on 17. Mohammad Zahid and Fazl-e-Akbar shared alast wicket stand worth 38 before the latter was caught off ShahidAfridi for 15. Zahid returned with 18 to his name.