Faisalabad Region showed great fighting spirit to secure a draw against Sialkot Region in the 9th match of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar. After being forced to follow on with a 161-run deficit, Faisalabad bounced back strongly in their second innings. Atiq-ur-Rehman played a brilliant knock of 143 runs, supported by Awais Zafar’s quick-fire 59, to help Faisalabad reach 346/6 and save the match. Earlier, Mehran Mumtaz’s superb 125 and Mohammad Ali’s five-wicket haul had put Sialkot in a commanding position with a total of 416.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo Match Scorecard
Match Scorecard
| Team | First Innings | Second Innings | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faisalabad Region | 255 all out (89.5 overs) | 346/6 (90 overs) | Match Drawn |
| Sialkot Region | 416 all out (121.5 overs) | Did not bat | Match Drawn |
Venue: Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar
Toss: Faisalabad Region elected to bat first
Match Duration: October 12-15, 2025 (4 days)
Points: Sialkot Region 12, Faisalabad Region 9
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atiq-ur-Rehman | Faisalabad | Batsman | 143 runs (179 balls, 18 fours, 1 six) in 2nd innings |
| Mehran Mumtaz | Sialkot | Batsman | 125 runs (156 balls, 18 fours, 2 sixes) |
| Mohammad Ali | Sialkot | Bowler | 5/47 in first innings (25 overs) |
| Awais Zafar | Faisalabad | Batsman | 59 runs (62 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes) in 2nd innings |
| Atiq-ur-Rehman | Faisalabad | Batsman | 81 runs (118 balls) in 1st innings |
Sources: ESPNcricinfo Full Scorecard
Key Moments
- Mohammad Ali destroys Faisalabad’s top order – The Sialkot pacer took five wickets for just 47 runs, including three quick strikes that reduced Faisalabad to 160/5 in their first innings.
- Mehran Mumtaz’s brilliant century – Coming in at number nine, Mumtaz smashed 125 runs with 18 boundaries and 2 sixes, turning the match in Sialkot’s favor and helping them reach 416.
- Follow-on enforced – With a 161-run lead, Sialkot captain Usama Mir asked Faisalabad to bat again, putting pressure on the home team.
- Atiq-ur-Rehman’s rescue act – After Faisalabad lost three early wickets in their second innings, Atiq played a captain’s knock of 143 runs to anchor the innings and save the match.
- Awais Zafar’s counter-attack – The explosive batsman scored 59 off just 62 balls with six fours and three sixes, adding crucial runs with Atiq in a 115-run partnership.
- Faisalabad holds on – Despite Usama Mir taking three wickets in the second innings, Faisalabad batted out all 90 overs to finish at 346/6 and secure a hard-fought draw.
Match Analysis
This match showed two different sides of cricket. Sialkot started strong with Mohammad Ali’s excellent bowling performance. His five-wicket haul broke Faisalabad’s first innings and gave Sialkot control. Then Mehran Mumtaz played an amazing innings from the lower order, hitting the ball all around the ground to take Sialkot to a big total of 416.
When Faisalabad had to bat again, they were in serious trouble. Losing wickets early in the second innings made things very difficult. But Atiq-ur-Rehman played one of the best innings of the tournament so far. He batted for over five hours, showing great patience and skill. His partnership with Awais Zafar changed the match completely.
Awais Zafar showed that attack can be the best defense. His quick scoring took pressure off Atiq and frustrated the Sialkot bowlers. Even though Usama Mir picked up three wickets with his spin bowling, Faisalabad’s lower-order batsmen Ali Shan and Ahmed Safi Abdullah stayed calm and helped save the draw.
What’s Next
Faisalabad Region will take confidence from this draw, especially after fighting back from a difficult position. Atiq-ur-Rehman’s form will be important for them in upcoming matches. They earned 9 points from this game.
Sialkot Region will be disappointed not to win after being in such a strong position. However, they earned 12 points and showed their strength with both bat and ball. Mohammad Ali and Mehran Mumtaz will be key players as the tournament continues.
Both teams will look to build on their performances as the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy season moves forward. Faisalabad’s next match is against Multan Region, while Sialkot will face Lahore Region Whites.
Match Officials:
Umpires: Khalid Mahmood, Mohammad Sajid
Match Referee: Aleem Moosa