Date:29/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/29/stories/2006092901832100.htm

Sport - Cricket

Scintillating hundred by Nazir

Special Correspondent

Uttar Pradesh gains first innings lead

DHARAMSHALA: It was a fascinating duel that belonged to a higher league. Imran Nazir, retiring hurt and then returning to the middle produced a scintillating assault that taught the Uttar Pradesh bowlers a lesson or two. It really lit up the contest.

Nazir's century and his combat of attrition with leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who claimed three victims, made the day at the Cricket Stadium here on the second day of the four-day Mohammad Nissar Trophy match on Thursday. Nazir helped Sialkot recover to 261 from 89 for five as Uttar Pradesh ended the day at 14 for no loss.

Resuming at 269 for seven, Uttar Pradesh progressed to 316 with the lone interest revolving around Rizwan Shamshad, who resumed batting on 60. His best efforts, however, failed to fetch him a century as he made a fatal error in judging the line. His 84 was the backbone of the U.P. innings and saw him face 193 balls with four fours.

Sialkot had a tough task from the time it lost early wickets and Nazir left the field after facing a mere two balls. He had hurt his shoulder in the morning while attempting to catch Shamshad at covers. The Sialkot innings was rocked by some tidy bowling by seamers Praveen Kumar and Salabh Srivastava and then Chawla joined the act with his nagging length causing concern more than the spin or flight.

The top half of the Sialkot batting lacked the will and some casual strokes left the team in an embarrassing state until Nazir strode in to take the bowlers by the scruff. His robust shots scattered the field and presented the bowlers with a challenge.

Strokeful knock

That Nazir loves to bat aggressively is known but on Thursday afternoon he appeared to be making a point in mocking at the desperate methods that the U.P. bowlers tried in an attempt to shackle him.The pitch did prove hazardous at time, especially when the ball kept low, but Nazir tackled the threat by playing more on front foot and not putting any leash on his wide range of shots.

Nazir finally fell to R.P. Singh but only after carving out a stunning 123 off 114 balls with 16 fours and five sixes.

The scores:

Uttar Pradesh — 1st innings: R. Prakash b Mughal 16, S. Shukla lbw b Asif 1, S. Raina c Malik b Asif 5, R. Shukla c Jahangir b Ahmed 54, P. Kumar c & b Ahmed 2, J. Yadav c Mughal b Rehman 15, R. Shamshad lbw b Rehman 84, P. Chawla c Moghul b Yousuf 48, Amir Khan c Khalid b Ahmed 23, R.P. Singh b Mughal 15, S. Srivastava (not out) 2; Extras (b-24, lb-18, w-1, nb-8) 51; Total (in 102.4 overs) 316.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-23, 3-50, 4-53, 5-109, 6-121, 7-200, 8-269, 9-306.

Sialkot bowling: Asif 6.4-2-8-2, Ahmed 31-8-61-3, Mughal 26.2-2-102-2, Yousuf 2-0-8-1, Rehman 25.4-5-72-2, Majid 2-1-4-0, Malik 9-1-19-0.

Sialkot — 1st innings: I. Nazir c Prakash b R.P. Singh 123, H. Majid c Raina b Chawla 15, S. Yousuf c Amir b R.P. Singh 24, M. Amjad b Praveen 3, S. Malik c Raina b Srivastava 24, A. Rehman c Amir b Praveen 0, S. Malik lbw b Srivastava 14, T. Mughal b Chawla 29, M. Asif b Chawla 0, S. Ahmed b Praveen 4, Hafiz Khalid (not out) 4; Extras (b-2, lb-5, w-1, nb-13) 21; Total (in 60.1 overs) 261.

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-36, 3-45, 4-55, 5-89, 6-96, 7-218, 8-218, 9-237.

Uttar Pradesh bowling: R.P. Singh 12.1-1-63-2, Srivastava 11-4-24-2, Praveen 17-0-70-3, Chawla 18-4-81-3, Yadav 2-0-16-0.

Uttar Pradesh — 2nd innings: R. Prakash (batting) 2, S. Shukla (batting) 11; Extras (nb-1) 1; Total (for no loss in 8 overs) 14.

Sialkot bowling: Asif 4-1-7-0, Ahmed 4-2-7-0.