Peshawar Region in commanding position against Lahore Ravi on the opening day of the four-day Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship Division-II, which got under way at Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Before the start of the match, Fateha was offered for the departed soul of first cricketer Nouman Habib who was killed by unknown miscreants on Tuesday; last, in which large of his cricketing mates, officials of the Peshawar District Cricket Association, Peshawar Region Cricket Association and former Test cricketer Maazullah Khan, Arshad Khan, other international cricketers participated.

Peshawar skipper Akbar Badshah won the toss and elected to bat first by scoring 190 runs all out with Riaz Afridi hammered a cracking 59 runs, laced with four towering sixes and six boundaries off 33 balls only. Gohar smashed another excellent knock of 43 runs with six boundaries while Muhammad Fayyaz made 36 runs with one six and four six boundaries.

For Lahore Ravi left-arm fast bowler Ammad Ali claimed four wickets for 47 runs in 14 overs spell, Asif Ashfaq, the right-arm medium fast bowler, took two wickets for 73 runs in 13 overs spell, Saad Wasim took two wickets for 17 runs in two overs spell.

In reply to Peshawar Region 190 runs first innings total, Lahore Ravi lost five wickets for 113 runs in its first innigns with Usman Salahuddin, the skipper, was batting on 46 not out and Hafiz Sohail was on 6 not out. Muhammad Saad was the prominent batsman who struck 43 runs with four boundaries.

For Peshawar, Waqar took two wickets for 46 runs in 10 overs spell, Rohul Amin took two wickets for 23 runs in his nine overs spell and Riaz Afridi took one wicket for 21 runs in his 12 overs spell.