Karachi Whites, WAPDA, SSGC in Super Eight

By Alam Zeb Safi

December 11, 2015

KARACHI: Karachi Whites, WAPDA and SSGC qualified for the Super Eight stage of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on Thursday.

SNGPL, UBL, Lahore Blues, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) had already made it to the next round which will begin here next week.

PQA (11 points) and Hyderabad (6 points, maximum 5 defeats) were demoted to the second-tier slots following their pathetic performances.

On the final day of their four-day Group B outing here at National Stadium, Karachi Whites romped to their second successive victory when they defeated FATA by three wickets thanks to emerging left-hander Saud Shakeel’s second hundred in the season.

Karachi Whites finished third in the group with 28 points.

Karachi Whites chased the 320-run victory in 89.3 overs after losing seven wickets.

They had started the day at 34 without loss. The 20-year-old Saud Shakeel blasted 116 off 157 balls with 15 fours to play an anchor’s role in the chase.

He added 87 for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Waqas (55) and 118 for the fifth wicket with Sheraz Ali (52*).

Waqas, who had hit 137 in the first innings, struck eight fours in his 108-ball fifty. Sheraz smacked nine fours from 97 deliveries.

Earlier, Zia-ul-Haq (28) and Jahid Ali (24) provided a 54-run opening stand to Karachi Whites.

Fast bowler Irfanullah Shah took 3-95, for a match-haul of 9-171.

Karachi Whites scored 300 in their first innings. FATA posted 141 and 478.

WAPDA also pulled off their second triumph to move into the next round when they crushed HBL by 225 runs in their Group B clash at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.

Chasing a stiff target of 366, HBL resumed their second innings at 68-4 and were bundled out for 140.

Umar Gul made 19 with two fours. Left-arm international spinner Zulfiqar Babar produced excellent figures of 6-38 in 18 overs.

WAPDA posted 212 and 240-5 declared. HBL perished for only 87 in their first innings.

The Group A showdown between SSGC and PQA at Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad, did not yield result. The former reached the next round with 16 points.

Not a single delivery was bowled in the entire day due to bad weather.

PQA scored 283 in their first innings. In response, SSGC made 208-6. As two innings could not be completed both sides claimed one point each. PQA thus got eliminated from first-class cricket as they finished at the bottom among departments.

The Group A clash between Peshawar and Islamabad also ended in a stalemate as inclement weather did now allow any action for the second successive day at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar.

Peshawar gained three points due to their first innings lead. Islamabad posted 129 and 96-1. Peshawar made 170 in their first innings.

At LCCA Ground, Lahore, the match between Lahore Whites and Rawalpindi ended in a draw with the former taking three points due to their first innings lead.

After securing 18 runs lead, Lahore Whites were bowled out for 107 in their second innings, which set 126 runs target for Rawalpindi, who reached 11-2 by the end of the match.

Asif Raza (32), Ikhlaq Butt (28) and Anas Mehmood (20) offered some resistance. Leggie Mansoor Amjad took 4-27.

Lahore Whites scored 201 in their first innings. Rawalpindi, in response, posted 183. At Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi, no play was possible due to bad weather and the encounter between SNGPL and UBL ended in a draw with the former securing three points due to their first innings lead. UBL scored 132 and 112-3. SNGPL accumulated 230 in their first innings.

Points Table

Teams M W L T D A Pts

Pool A

SNGPL 7 3 0 0 4 0 40

UBL 7 3 0 0 4 0 35

Lahore Blues 7 2 2 0 3 0 22

SSGC 7 1 1 0 5 0 16

Peshawar 7 0 0 0 7 0 13

PQA 7 1 1 0 5 0 11

Islamabad 7 1 2 0 4 0 7

Hyderabad 7 0 5 0 2 0 6

Pool B