KARACHI: Karachi Dolphins, led by spinner Shahzaib Ahmed Khan, enjoyed a profitable opening day on Sunday at the start of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship Gold League’s fixture when they dismissed Port Qasim Authority for a modest first-innings score of 220.

Skipper Rameez Raja’s decision to field after winning the toss at the National Stadium paid off immediate dividends when left-arm seamer Mir Hamza got rid of ex-international Shahzaib Hasan for a first-ball duck.

Test opener Khurram Manzoor played a fine hand of 83 (223 balls, 12 boundaries) in a watchful knock while sharing the day’s only two significant partnerships. He put on 72 for the second wicket with Faraz Ali (28) before former Test batsman Asim Akmal (21) helped him add 61 for the fifth wicket.

Khurram, who seemed on course for a century, needlessly threw away his wicket when he aimed to cut a wide delivery from paceman Adeel Malik and was nicely held in the slips by Majid Khan.

Khalid Latif was run out for 15 after a terrible mix-up with Khurram who turned his back on the PQA captain.

Former Pakistan Under-19 leg-spinner Shahzaib claimed four wickets — including that of Asim Kamal — to finish with four for 79 in 30 overs, while Adeel and Waqar Anwar bagged two wickets apiece.

Aamir Sajjad hit up 119 (152 balls, 18 fours) in the unfinished stand of 190 with Mohammad Saad (95 off 270, four fours) as Wapda amassed 315-2 after being asked to bat first by Lahore Lions at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Opener Iftikhar Ahmed scored struck a 101-ball 74 that included 12 boundaries.

Despite a gutsy unbeaten innings of 124 (235 balls, 18 fours and one six), hosts Multan Tigers managed an inadequate tally of 219 against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah nudged the national selectors for possible inclusion in the Pakistan squad for the upcoming two Tests against Australia with four wickets for 79 runs.

By close of play, SNGPL — two-time winners of now defunct President’s Trophy — had faced just three deliveries in reply.

Paceman Afaq Ahmed picked up five wickets for 52 runs as Peshawar Panthers bowled out the strong National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) for 170 after deciding to bowl first upon winning the toss at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar.

The home side then reached 45-1 to complete a good day.

Bowlers were song at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad where 13 wickets tumbled. Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), put into bat, were all out for 193 with Shehzad Azam Rana taking seven for 80.

Left-arm speedster Usman Khan Shinwari then grabbed three quick wickets as Islamabad Leopards limped to 65-3 in their response.

United Bank were 90-2 after bowling out Rawalpindi Rams for a paltry 130 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. Close of play scores on Sunday (day one of four):

At National Stadium, Karachi: PORT QASIM AUTHORITY 220 in 87.1 overs (Khurram Manzoor 83; Shahzaib Ahmed Khan 4-79) vs KARACHI DOLPHINS.

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore: WAPDA 315-2 in 91 overs (Aamir Sajjad 119 not out, Mohammad Saad 95 not out, Iftikhar Ahmed 74) vs LAHORE LIONS.

At Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan: MULTAN TIGERS 219 in 79.4 overs (Abdul Rehman Muzammil 124 not out, Usman Liaquat 54; Yasir Shah 4-79, Samiullah Khan Niazi 2-17, Asad Ali 2-49); SNGPL 1-0 in 0.3 overs.

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar: NATIONAL BANK 170 in 52.2 overs (Hammad Azam 37, Mohammad Nawaz 35; Afaq Ahmed 5-52, Taj Wali 2-59); PESHAWAR PANTHERS 45-1 in 12 overs.

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: ZTBL 193 in 66 overs (Shahid Yousuf 69, Shoaib Malik 51; Shehzad Azam Rana 7-80, Hamza Nadeem 3-20); ISLAMABAD LEOPARDS 65-3 in 11 overs (Ali Sarfraz 28 not out, Imad Wasim 23 not out; Usman Shinwari 3-30).

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: RAWALPINDI RAMS 130 in 49 overs (Usman Saeed 53; Prince Abbas 4-32, Rumman Raees Khan 3-28, Adil Raza 2-42); UNITED BANK 90-2 in 32.2 overs (Khaqan Arsal 44).

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2014