Khurram, Asad steer Karachi to One-day Cup semis

ISLAMABAD: A record 268 runs opening wicket stand between Khurram Manzoor (187) and Asad Shafiq (145) took Karachi Whites into semis as they minimised Islamabad hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the National One-day Inter Regional Cricket at the Pindi Stadium Sunday.

The pair brilliant knocks saw Karachi amassing 384 for 5 in 50 overs with Islamabad finishing up at 298 for 7 in response. Once the pair amassed huge stand for the opening wicket, Islamabad struggled to match the total. Khurram struck 22 fours and three sixes during his 155-ball knock. He struck Islamabad bowlers to all corners of the ground. His partner Asad smashed 21 boundaries and one six during his 116-ball innings. Though Shahzad Azam Rana (3-85) took three wickets he came under hammering, consuming 85 runs in just eight overs. All other Islamabad bowlers also got punished for wayward bowling.

In reply Islamabad struggled at the top in absence of Shan Masood. Abid Ali (60) played well at top. Later Shahzad Azam Rana (87 not out) and Nauman Ali (74) put up 91 runs for the seventh wicket to give some respectability to Islamabad total. Nauman smashed six boundaries and five sixes in his 45-ball innings while Shahzad hitting nine boundaries and four sixes in his unbeaten knock.

Karachi Whites with the victory moved into the semis. Peshawar so far is leading the table and has also made it to the semis along with Rawalpindi. The fourth semi-finalist will be finalized at the end of seventh round.

Scores: Karachi Whites 384 for 5 in 50 overs (Khurram Manzoor 187, Asad Shafiq 145, Shahzad Azam Rana 3-85)

Islamabad 298 for 7 in 50 overs (Shahzad Azam Rana 87 not out, Nauman Ali 74, Abid Ali 60, Mohammad Sami 2-42, Danish Aziz 2-54). Scores of other martches: At Diamond Ground Islamabad: Faisalabad 228 for 9 in 50 overs (Raees Ahmad 65, Faheem Ashraf 55, Yasir Ali 4-69, Saad Altaf 2-65)

Rawalpindi 229 for 4 in 42.1 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 64, Iftikhar Ahmad 56 not out, Asad Raza 2-47).Result: Rawalpindi won by six wickets.

At KRL Stadium Rawalpindi:

FATA 266 for 9 in 50 overs (Nisar Afridi 62, Sohail Akhtar 52, Bilawal Iqbal 4-34). Lahore Blues 231 all out in 48.4 overs (Mohammad Saad 67, Bilawal Iqbal 40, Meer Hamza 3-55, Mukhtar Ahmad 3-67).Result: Fata won by 35 runs.