Multan Region qualify for first-class cricket

ISLAMABAD: Multan Region finished off Karachi Region Blues in three days, winning the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade II final by 10 wickets to qualify for first-class cricket next season.

Resuming at the overnight score of 81-4 at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Karachi were bowled out for 154 — the same score they achieved in the first innings. Multan hit up the required three runs on the first ball of their innings.

Aamir Yamin (5-32) and Zulfiqar Babar (4-57) again ran through the Karachi Blues innings. Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar returned with match figures of 9-107 while Aamir had 8-65.

Saifullah Bangish (32), Fahadis Bukhari (26) and Saud Shakeel (20) played well for Karachi Blues in the second innings but no one stayed long at the wicket to get a decent second innings score.

Multan will now play first-class cricket next season at the expense of Fata. The winners received a prize of Rs500,000 while the runners-up got Rs250,000.

Scores in brief: Karachi Region Blues 154 all out in 61.2 overs (Ashiq Ali 47, Muhammad Asghar 33, Fahadis Bukhari 23; Zulfiqar Babar 5-50, Aamir Yamin 3-33) and 154 all out in 55.2 overs (Saifullah Bangish 32, Fahadis Bukhari 26, Saud Shakeel 20; Aamir Yamin 5-32, Zulfiqar Babar 4-57). Multan Region 306 all out in 82.1 overs (Abdul Rehman Muzammil 113, Waqar Hussain 89, Saeed Anwar Jr. 23, Ashiq Ali 4-96, Muhammad Asghar 4-115, Muhammad Umar 2-44) and 4-0 in 0.1 over. Result: Multan Region won by 10 wickets.

Individual prizes (Rs50,000 each): Man of the Match: Abdul Rehman Muzammil (Multan).

Best batsman: Saad Khan (Hyderabad, 450 runs).

Best bowler: Zulfiqar Babar (Multan, 31 wickets).

Best all-rounder: Kamran Ghulam (Abbottabad, 337 runs, 22 wickets & 6 catches).