KARACHI, Oct 13: A career-best haul of eight for 48 by off-spinner Tahir Khan engineered a creditable 97-run victory for Karachi Whites in their Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National cricket championship match against Karachi Blues at the National Stadium on Wednesday.

Tahir, the 23-year-old who has played just 15 matches in six years of first-class cricket, produced a magnificent spell of bowling from the Pavilion End and never allowed any of the Karachi Blues batsmen to settle down.

Karachi Whites picked up maximum (nine) points for this noteworthy performance against a star-studded side. Chasing 322 for victory in 76 overs, the Blues, containing no less than six Test players, folded up for 224 in 49.5 overs. Sadly, none of the experienced stalwarts showed the application and dedication required in this team sport.

Left-arm medium-pacer Imranullah put Karachi Whites on victory path by getting rid of both openers Asif Zakir (13) and Shadab Kabir (8). Hasan Raza, Test cricket's youngest ever debutant, made 47 off 36 balls with eight fours before he went down the pitch to Tahir but got himself yorked.

Rashid Latif, the Blues skipper, then tried to hit Tahir out of the stadium but was caught in the deep for a second-ball duck. Farhan Adil (31) and Danish Kaneria, who hit eight boundaries in making a career best 47 off 50 balls, added 68 for the eighth-wicket after Tahir had sent back Naumanullah (32), Hasan and Rashid in the same over.

Tahir's last victim of the day, Nasir Khan, was the young spinner's 50th first-class wicket. Earlier, Zeeshan Pervez remained unconquered on 121 as the Whites declared their second innings at 240 for seven after starting the final day at 204 for five.

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