Karachi Blues to face Multan in final

KARACHI: Karachi Blues defeated Sialkot by nine wickets to set final date with Multan who advanced into the decider on the basis of the first innings lead in their drawn semi-final of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade-II against Faisalabad on Monday.

As was expected Karachi Blues upstaged Test cricketer Mohammad Asif-led Sialkot with an enviable ease when they chased down the 43-run target in 7.2 overs for the loss of Test cricketer Khurram Manzoor, who was trapped lbw off paceman Mohammad Abbas for 15. Khurram struck three fours from 12 deliveries.

Asad Shafiq (17) and Mohtashim Ali (11) remained not out. Sialkot, who had conceded 116 runs lead, resumed their second innings at 116 and were bowled out for 158 in 59.2 overs.

Mohammad Kamran struck 31 off 53 balls which featured five fours and a six.

Test pacer Sohail Khan, who dominated the match with both ball and bat, picked 3-71, for match figures of 8-124.

Sohail scored 140 not out in Karachi Blues’ first innings.

Fawad Alam took 3-5 with his left-arm slow bowling. Sialkot posted 111 in their first innings. Karachi Blues, in response, staged 227 all out.

At Multan Cricket Stadium, the second semi-final between Faisalabad and Multan did not yield any result with Multan qualifying for the final on the basis of their first innings lead.

After conceding 258 runs lead, Multan batted superbly in the second innings, scoring 378-5 by the end of the game. They had resumed at 83 for no loss.

Openers Ali Rafiq (115) and Iftikhar Ahmed (104) blasted fine centuries, scoring 199 runs together. Ali hammered 15 fours from 205 deliveries. Iftikhar smacked 17 fours from 162 balls in 210 minutes.

Number three Atif Manzoor made 62 off 102 balls, smashing ten fours. Left-arm international spinner Zulfiqar Babar got 2-146, for 4-158 match-figures.

Faisalabad posted 107 all out in their first innings. Multan, in reply, accumulated 365-9.

Summarised scores: Semi-finals: At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad: Sialkot 1st innings 111 all out in 42 overs (Abdul Rehman 20, Sohail Khan 5-53), 2nd innings: 158 all out in 59.2 overs (Ali Khan 35, Salman Ali 33, Sohail Khan 3-71, Fawad Alam 3-5).

Karachi Blues 1st innings 227 all out in 66 overs (Sohail Khan 140 not out, Mohammad Asif 3-46, Mohammad Abbas 3-56), 2nd innings: 45-1 in 7.2 overs (Khurram Manzoor 15, Asad Shafiq 17*)

At Multan Cricket Stadium: Faisalabad 1st innings 107 all out in 32 overs (Asif Ali 36, Majid Ali 3-26, Rizwan Haider 2-19, Zulfiqar Babar (2-12), 2nd innings: 378-5 in 101 overs (Ali Rafiq 115, Iftikhar Ahmed 104, Zulfiqar Babar 2-146).

Multan 1st innings 365-9 in 83 overs (Kashif Naved 133 not out, Abdul Rehman Muzammil 119, Asif Ali 4-26, Asad Ali 3-81).