First innings lead takes KPT to final

KARACHI: Karachi Port Trust (KPT) qualified for the final on the basis of first innings lead when their three-day semi-final of the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II against K-Electric ended in a draw here at National Stadium on Thursday.
KPT will meet Omar Associates in the final at the same venue from April 12.
The winners of the final will make it to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver which will be held later this year.
In 2005, KPT had qualified for the first-class cricket after winning the Kardar Trophy (Grade-II) on points. But they failed to keep their place and got relegated in their debut event.
Left-arm Test pacer Wahab Riaz and left-handed Test opener Shadab Kabir were also part of KPT in those days.
Chasing 257, KPT reached 158-4 in 56 overs in their second innings by the end of the final day’s play.
After losing opener Anas Mahmood (7) and Shah Ali Zafar (2), Faisal Khan (56) and opener Nadeem Javed (53) made 67 runs for the third wicket. Faisal, who was caught by substitute Rizwan off the bowling of slow left-armer Israrullah, struck 11 fours from 104 deliveries.
Nadeem smacked nine fours and a six from 112 balls.
Raza Ali Dar chipped in with unbeaten 39 off 69 deliveries, smashing four fours and two sixes.
Leggie Shahzaib Ahmed got 2-61, for 5-175 match-haul. Left-arm spinner Faraz Ahmed claimed 1-22, while Israrullah captured 1-8 from two overs.
K-Electric, who had conceded four runs lead the other day, resumed their second innings from 57 without loss and declared at 260-9 in 37 overs.
Skipper Ramiz Raja hammered a quick-fire 63-ball 70, hitting five fours and two sixes.
Ramiz, who had promoted himself in the batting order, put on 87 runs for the opening stand with Behram Khan, who made 39-ball 37 with four fours.
Saud Shakeel blasted 47-ball 63 with five fours and a six.
Majid Khan made unbeaten 22-ball 32 with two fours and a six.
Left-arm pacer Bilawal grabbed 5-101 from 14 overs, for match figures of

9-209.
Leg-spinner Mansoor Ahmed claimed 3-54 from eight overs.
K-Electric posted 393-8 in their first innings. In response, KPT accumulated 397-8 to take four runs lead that eventually put them in the final.
KPT’s coach Mahmood Rasheed was satisfied with his team’s performance in the semi-final. “The boys did a fine job with both bat and ball,” Mahmood told ‘The News’.
He said they would have an advantage over Omar Associates in the final. “We are fortunate to have played at this ground which will help us in the final.
“We have four to five first-class batsmen who are mature enough to face any bowling attack,” Mahmood claimed.
It will be a real test for KPT’s batters to face left-arm Test pacer Mohammad Amir in the final. Amir, who has returned to domestic cricket after around five years, is in top form and has been taking wickets regularly.
Omar Associates will practise at National Stadium at 9:30am on Friday (today), a senior team official said.