Sohail shines as Karachi Blues demolish Larkana

KARACHI: International pacer Sohail Khan claimed 12 wickets to enable Karachi Blues record their second successive win when they annihilated Larkana by an innings and 143 runs on the second day of their three-day Pool A outing of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade-II at Multan Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Sohail — who has also played two Tests for the national team — grabbed 5-27, for excellent match figures of 12-59 to dismiss Larkana for only 52 in their second innings after having faced a 195-run first innings deficit.

Sohail was ably backed by his new-ball partner Zohaib Shera who got 5-23, finishing the game with 8-42.

Ghulam Farooq (18) was the only batsman in the entire line-up of Larkana to enter double-figures.

Earlier, in response to Larkana’s first innings total of 80, Karachi Blues resumed their first innings at 214-8 and were folded for 275.

Mohammad Waqas, who was batting on 109, went on to hit 146 before being bowled by medium-pacer Imtiaz Leghari who took 3-58. Waqas smashed ten fours and two sixes in his hundred.

Left-arm leg-spinner Ali Asghar claimed 3-62.

In Pool B clash at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad, Faisalabad reached 72-3 in their first innings against Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) as only 23 overs could be bowled during the day due to last few days of constant rain. The first day’s play had also been called off on Sunday.

Iftikhar Ahmed belted 24. Atif Manzoor was at the crease on 20. Shadab Majeed grabbed 2-29 from nine overs.

Meanwhile, the second day’s play of the game between Dera Murad Jamali and Abbottabad at National Ground Islamabad was also called off due to wet conditions for the second successive day.

In Pool A show at Dring Stadium Bahawalpur, Rameez Raja (114*) hit another magnificent century to enable Quetta gain lead when they reached 312-6 in their first innings in response to Bahawalpur’s first innings score of 290. Ramiz struck six fours and three sixes in his unfinished 135-ball innings.

He added 68 for the fifth wicket stand with Abdul Mannan, who fell for 70 which had nine fours.

Imranullah claimed 3-97 with his right-arm leg-spin.

Earlier, Bahawalpur were bowled out for 290-5 in their first innings after resuming at 263-5.

Adeel Basit fell for 64 after adding 11 runs to his overnight score. He smashed seven fours in his 91-ball knock. Arun Lal got 3-69.