KARACHI: Spinner Qamar Abbas led a fine bowling effort from Faisalabad as holders Karachi Whites were dismissed for a modest first-innings total on day one of the second triangular tie in the PCB Inter-region Under-19 (Three-day) Cricket Tournament on Saturday.

Hasan Mohsin’s decision to bat first after winning the toss at the Mirpur Cricket Stadium backfired when the champions found struggling at 74-4.

The in-form opener S.M. Tahami departed in the first over when paceman Asad Raza bowled the opener for a five-ball duck before fellow opener Umair Yousuf (23) and left-hander Ram Ravi (64 off 93 balls, eight boundaries) added 56.

But when Umair was bowled, Karachi Whites quickly lost all-rounders Mohammad Hassaan Khan (4) and Ammad Alam (8) as paceman Mohammad Ibtesam grabbed three quick wickets.

Ram and Hasan (24) then put on 43 when slow left-armer Qamar got rid of the pair. The big-hitting Azam Khan fell to Asad for 10 as the champions slid to 136-7.

However, Mohammad Zubair (32 and Mohammad Umar (30) shared a face-saving partnership of 48 before Abrar Ahmed contributed 20 as Karachi Whites reached 209 all out in 54.3 overs.

Qamar finished with 4-27 in 17 overs while Asad (3-56 in 12.5 overs) and Ibtesam (3-60 in 11) shared the remaining wickets.

Faisalabad completed a fine day by closing on 120-2 in reply after Ali Raza (53 off 75 balls, 12 fours) and Abdul Samad (25) put on 73 for the opening wicket before both got out to off-spinner Ammad Alam, who has so far claimed 2-16 in seven overs.

At stumps, skipper Shahid Khan (24) and Mohammad Saleem (10) were together at the crease.

Close of play scores of Saturday (day one three):

KARACHI WHITES 209 in 54.3 in overs (Ram Ravi 64, Mohammad Zubair 32, Hasan Mohsin 24, Umair Yousuf 22; Qamar Abbas 4-27, Asad Raza 3-56, Mohammad Ibtesam 3-60); FAISALABAD 120-2 in 38.2 overs (Ali Raza 53, Abdul Samad 25, Shahid Khan 24 not out; Ammad Alam 2-15).

Published in Dawn October 23rd, 2016