KARACHI: Karachi Dolphins sealed an emphatic victory when they decimated the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) by 234 runs in the Gold League fixture of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship at the National Stadium here on Wednesday.

SNGPL, crippled by national call-ups with the likes of Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Taufiq Umar and Yasir Shah missing, subsided for just 170 in their second innings after being set a daunting 405-run target in a minimum 83 overs.

Even the presence of Umar Akmal failed to lift the SNGPL camp. The Pakistan batsman, who as the acting captain promoted himself to No.3, was fourth out at 56 when he got an inside edge while trying to hit through the off-side and offered wicket-keeper Mohammad Hasan — who had also combined with paceman Adeel Malik to dismiss Umar — a simple catch.

Umar’s departure for 10 was what the Dolphins wanted after Naeemuddin had struck eight boundaries in a 27-ball 35 in the first-wicket partnership of 40 before he was lbw by Adeel.

Left-arm paceman Mir Hamza then quickly sent back other opener Imran Butt (5) and Ali Waqas (4) to leave SNGPL tottering at 46-3.

Leg-spinner Shahzaib Ahmed Khan then grabbed three wickets to add to his career-best 6-67 in the first innings, giving him match bag of nine for 108 in 42 overs. Abu Bakr Khan (33) was deceived by a flipper that hustled through to have him leg-before.

The former Pakistan U-19 bowler, who captured 3-41, outfoxed Mohammad Rizwan (22) as the wicket-keeper/batsman misread a googly and slapped a catch to Dolphins skipper Rameez Raja in the covers.

Imran Khalid waged some fight with a run-a-ball 32 not out but the Dolphins were not to be denied a thoroughly deserved first win of the new season as Imran Ali, Samiullah Khan Niazi and Asad Ali all fell without scoring.

Imran edged a Shahzaib leg-break to Saad Ali, Samiullah was run out and Asad was caught off Mir Hamza who ended up with 3-48.

Dolphins coach and former Test off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed attributed the result to excellent camaraderie exhibited by his charges.

“Because I believe that without teamwork it is very hard for any team to expect positive results. The way our players stood up was exemplary, particularly Saad Ali and Shahzaib Ahmed Khan, who made all the difference,” Tauseef told Dawn.

Earlier, the Dolphins chose to bat for another five overs in which they extended their overnight second-innings score of 365-5 to 402-7 declared with Imran Khalid snaring both the wickets to fall to finish with 6-146.

Result on Wednesday (final day of four):

At National Stadium, Karachi: Karachi Dolphins bt SNGPL by 234 runs.

KARACHI DOLPHINS 205 in 73.3 overs (Saad Ali 105, Rameez Raja 23, Babar Rehman 23; Asad Ali 4-48, Imran Khalid 3-63) and 402-7 declared in 110 overs (Fazal Subhan 90, Majid Khan 79, Saad Ali 73, Babar Hussain Agha 54, Faraz Ahmed Khan 45; Imran Khalid 6-146); SNGPL 203 in 82.1 overs (Umar Akmal 42, Imran Butt 38, Naeemuddin 30, Mohammad Rizwan 30, Ali Waqas 20; Shahzaib Ahmed Khan 6-67, Adeel Malik 2-35) and 170 in 46.1 overs (Naeemuddin 35, Abu Bakr Khan 33, Imran Khalid 32 not out, Mohammad Rizwan 22; Shahzaib Ahmed Khan 3-41, Mir Hamza 3-48, Adeel Malik 2-34).

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2014