Baluchistan 174 and 33 for 0 need another 239 runs to beat NWFP 222 and 223 (Raees 98, Rauf 5-63)
Scorecard
Abdur Rauf's second five-wicket haul of the 2008-09 Pentangular Cup final gave Baluchistan a great shot at lifting their maiden title at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. North-West Frontier Province's lead was 154 when they resumed on day three, but Rauf kept a check on proceedings to leave Baluchistan a target of 272. Their openers scored 33 by stumps.
NWFP's top score was Adnan Raees' 98. Rauf gave his side the perfect start, dismissing Wajid Ali first thing in the morning. At 214, he removed Aftab Alam (35) and Zulfiqar Jan (0) and added Yasir Shah later on. Raees pretty much waged a lone battle, batting 210 minutes and unfortunately missing a century by two runs when Rauf bowled him to complete ten wickets in the match, the third time he has done so in first-class cricket. There were four zeros in NWFP's second innings.
Shoaib Khan snr finished unbeaten on 22 with Usman Tariq batting on 4. Baluchistan's first-innings folded for 174, but inspired by Rauf's heroics, they may find strength for their fourth-innings chase.