KARACHI: Rawalpindi Rams were on verge of qualifying for the PCB U-19 Inter-Region Three-day Cricket Tournament final after earning a significant 83-run lead against Karachi Dolphins at the Mirpur Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.

Shahab Khan made 80 (154 balls, nine fours and one six) to help the Rams reach 250 all out in 80.3 overs.

Saud Shakeel, the Dolphins skipper, claimed 5-56 with his slow left-armers before contributing an unbeaten 77 (108 balls, 11 boundaries) as the Dolphins closed at 177-6 in their second innings in the penultimate day of three-day semi-final.

Ahmed Bashir grabbed eight wickets for 68 runs as Lahore Eagles bowled out Faisalabad Wolves for 147 to take a lead of 58 on the first innings at the Jinnah Stadium in Gujranwala.

But the Wolves fought back well to reduce the Eagles to 151-9 in the second innings to set up an interesting final day on Sunday.

Close of play scores on Saturday (day two of three): Semi-finals:

At Mirpur Cricket Stadium, Mirpur: Karachi Dolphins 167 in 52.5 overs (Qadir Khan 54, Noor Wali 27; Jamil Abbas 3-66, Shadab Khan 2-14, Awais Iqbal 2-23, Mohammad Ismail 2-45) and 177-6 in 50 overs (Saud Shakeel 77 not out, Mohammad Asghar 32; Naqi Raza 3-44, Mir Waiz 2-25); RAWALPINDI RAMS 250 in 80.3 overs (Shadab Khan 80, Aamir Sohail 40, Zeeshan Malik 38, Aaqib Shah 22, Nauman Ali 21; Saud Shakeel 5-56, Mohammad Asghar 3-92, Noor Wali 2-37).

At Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala: LAHORE EAGLES 205 in 72 overs (Kamran Afzal 82 not out, Shahbaz Javed 40, Ali Raza 37; Shahabul Khan 6-57, Shahid Ali 2-17) and 151-9 in 51.1 overs (Shahbaz Javed 30, Hannan Rafiq 26 not out, Ali Raza 20; Shahabul Khan 3-34, Shahid Ali 3-45, Mudassar Riaz 2-54); FAISALABAD WOLVES 147 in 52.1 overs (Shafqatullah 23, Samar Gulzar 20; Ahmed Bashir 8-68).

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2014