KARACHI, July 7: Devastating spells of bowling by Asif Hameed and Saad Azeem inspired their respective sides to identical eight-wicket victories on the first day of the PCB Karachi region Under-19 Inter-district Cricket Championship on Thursday.

Off-spinner Asif returned splendid figures of six for 16 in 6.4 overs to help Zone-VI shot out Zone-VII for a paltry 77 at the Asifabad Sports Ground. Except for opener Bilal Munir (33, five fours) and Yasir Hussain (13) none of the other batsmen managed to reach double figures.

Asif was superbly supported by slow left-armer Shoaib Lodhi, who took two for three in five overs.

Zone-VI needed 28.5 overs to reach their target of 78 for the loss of two wickets.

Paceman Saad Azeem also captured six wickets as Zone-I thrashed Zone-IV at the Pak Star Ground. Saad finished with six for 39 in 16.1 overs to send Zone-IV crashing to 118 in the 40th over.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Mohammad Waqas added some respectability to the Zone-IV total by hitting a defiant 52 off 79 balls after coming to the crease at 30 for five. He stroked five fours and one six.

Artighal Chaudhary was the other main wicket-taker with three for 19 in 11 overs.

Skipper Ainan Arif, son of ex-Test player Taslim Arif, led from the front when Zone-I batted. He blasted five fours and one six in making 42 off 37 balls. Hamzaul Hasan scored an unbeaten 32.

Summarised scores:

At Asifabad Sports Ground: Zone-VI beat Zone-VII by eight wickets.

ZONE-VII 77 in 24.4 overs (Bilal Munir 33; Asif Hameed 6-16, Shoaib Lodhi 2-6); ZONE-VI 78-2 in 28.5 overs (Hassan Raza 22 not out; Junaid Ishaq 2-23).

At Pak Star Ground: Zone-I beat Zone-IV by eight wickets.

ZONE-IV 118 in 39.1 overs (Mohammad Waqas 52; Saad Azeem 6-39, Artighal Chaudhary 3-19); ZONE-I 119-2 in 27 overs (Ainan Arif 42, Hamzaul Hasan 32 not out).