Qasim hits maiden ton to rescue CP against Balochistan.

KARACHI -- Promising all-rounder Qasim Akram's maiden first class century pulled Central Punjab out of danger against Balochistan during the ninth-round match of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy at Lahore's LCCA Ground on Tuesday.

Central Punjab entered into the second day of the fixture reeling at 67-4, but Qasim smashed 111 runs off 162 balls to take the former champions to a heavily competitive total of 349.

The right-hander notched up a 140-run fifth-wicket partnership with Pakistan Test all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, who hit seven boundaries and a six in his 60-run knock before wicket-keeper Ali Shan added a solid 53.

Balochistan pacer Akif Javed, who captured three wickets on the first day, added another scalp on the second to finish with four wickets. Kashif Bhatti, Bilawal Iqbal and Yasir Shah took two wickets apiece.

At the National Stadium here, Northern posted a first-innings total of 605-8 before declaring against Sindh in the table-top clash. After openers Mohammad Huraira and Hasan Raza had scored centuries for the current Trophy leaders on the first day, it was Umar Amin's turn to hit another.

The left-hander added 140 off 198 balls to the total, plundering a formidable Sindh bowling line-up for 11 fours...