Multan stun Karachi Blues to move into semis

KARACHI: Multan blasted their way into the semi-finals when they came from behind to beat Karachi Blues by three wickets in their Pool A outing of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade-II at Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

After having conceded a 51-run lead, Multan bowled Karachi Blues out for 126 in their second innings to get a target of 178 which they achieved for the loss of seven wickets.

Kashif Naved struck 46 off 49 deliveries, hitting nine fours.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar got 3-63, while Test pacer Sohail Khan and Mir Hamza got two wickets each.

Earlier, after gaining lead when they folded Multan for 204 in their first innings in response to their total of 255, Karachi Blues’ batting line-up failed to click in the second innings and perished for only 126 to set a low target for their rivals.

Fawad Alam remained not out on 29, while Zakir Ali belted 27.

International left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar captured 5-36, for match-figures of 7-126.

Left-arm rookie pacer Zia-ul-Haq claimed 4-35.

Multan moved to the summit with 25 points. Karachi will now face Bahawalpur at Dring Stadium Bahawalpur in their last round game which will begin from Monday (tomorrow).

Meanwhile in the other show of Pool A at Dring Stadium Bahawalpur, Quetta pulled off their second win in beating Larkana by 141 runs.

After taking a 33-run lead Quetta scored 294 in their second innings to set a 325-run target for Larkana who were folded for 177. Fast bowler Gohar Faiz got 5-67 for Quetta for match-figures of 10-109.

Quetta scored 213 in their first innings. In response, Larkana were bundled out for 180.

Meanwhile the outing between Faisalabad and Sialkot ended in a draw at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad with the latter taking three points due to first innings lead.

Sialkot posted 313 and 101-1. Faisalabad piled-up 219 in their first innings.

Sialkot, with three points, moved to 14 points at the summit. Faisalabad have ten points. The last round matches would decide the two semi-finalists from the group.

On the first day of the Patron’s Trophy game here at National Stadium, Mirza Asad Baig (172*) and Saad Alam (105) cracked fine centuries to guide Customs post 369-4 in their first innings against Navy.

Mirza hammered 17, while Alam smacked 12 fours. Moazzam Malik got 2-61.

Navy in response were 19 for no loss at stumps.

At Railways Stadium Lahore, Railways scored 338-8 in their first innings against Khayaban-e-Amin with Farhan Nazir scoring 81 and Hasan Nasir 63. Khayaban-e-Amin were 11-1 in reply at close.

Candyland perished for 187 in their first innings against Pakistan Television (PTV) here at State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Ground. Usman Khalid made 46 with eight fours.

Atta-ur-Rehman picked 3-39. PTV were 138-2 in response at stumps.

Saudi Cricket International were reeling at 86-6 in their first innings against Army at Army Ground in Rawalpindi as wet conditions wasted most of the day’s proceedings. Higher Education Commission (HEC) were bowled out for 322 in their first innings against Dollar East at LCCA Ground in Lahore.

Usman Khalid belted 61, while Mohammad Mohsin (45) and Adil Akram (40) were the other prominent scorers. Bilawal Iqbal captured 4-39.

Dollar East, in reply, were 28-1 at close.

In Mirpur, Humak Engineering were bowled out for 248 in their first innings against Brighto Paints.

Kamran Hussain got 5-67. Brighto Paints in reply were four for no loss.

Income Tax made 100-7 in their first innings against KPT at Khayaban-e-Amin Ground, Lahore.

At Rana Naved Cricket Academy Ground in Sheikhupura, NADRA perished for 150 in their first innings against ZTBL. ZTBL in reply were 121-4.