The fifth round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy began on a thrilling note, with standout batting performances by Azan Awais, Iftikhar Ahmed and Sarmad Bhatti, while bowlers Muhammad Abbas and Mohammad Azab grabbed five-wicket hauls to put their teams in strong positions.
At Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad, Multan struggled against Lahore Whites in the first innings, being all out for 164.
Arafat Minhas top-scored with 45 runs.
Muhammad Abbas showcased his exceptional bowling skills, claiming 5 wickets for just 32 runs.
Visit Times of Karachi website for the latest news-related content daily
This marked his 51st five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
By the end of the day, Lahore Whites had reached 121 for 4, with Ali Zaryab Asif unbeaten on 51.
Meanwhile, at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, table-toppers Peshawar put up a strong batting display against Faisalabad, posting 320 runs in their first innings.
Iftikhar Ahmed impressed with a commanding 131, hitting 19 boundaries and one six, while Muhammad Haris contributed 88 runs with 12 boundaries and 3 sixes.
Khurram Shahzad took 3 wickets for Faisalabad.
At Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad, Sialkot put on to bat first against Abbottabad, finishing at 322 for 4.
Azan Awais played a brilliant innings of 123 runs, smashing 13 boundaries, while Abdullah Shafique added 62 runs.
At Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar, Karachi Blues posted 217 in their first innings against Bahawalpur.
Saad Baig continued his excellent form with 73 runs, bringing his tournament total to 520 runs.
READ: PCB announces 2025–26 domestic contracts with four-tier structure
Omair bin Yousuf also scored 70, while Mohammad Azab picked up 5 wickets conceding 70 runs.
By stumps, Bahawalpur were 55 for 5, with Saad Khan unbeaten on 32.
In Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Islamabad batted first against FATA, reaching 326 for 4.
Sarmad Bhatti contributed a classy 107, hitting 20 boundaries, while Rohail Nazir remained unbeaten on 96.
Together, they added a massive 215-run unbeaten partnership for the fifth wicket.
