KARACHI: Karachi Blues took another step towards relegation in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship after fellow strugglers Peshawar dismissed the visitors for a modest 181 on day one of the seventh and final-round fixture on Saturday.

After being sent into bat by home team skipper Akbar Badshah at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar, Karachi Blues ran into immediate problems as the new-ball duo of Taj Wali and Sajjad Hussain reduced them to 37-5.

Skipper Khurram Manzoor, the discarded Pakistan Test opener, was cleaned up by Sajjad for just 4, while his opening partner Jaahid Ali made only 1 when trapped in front by left-armer Taj.

Saud Shakeel, the ex-Pakistan Under-19 left-hander, also perished for one to Sajjad who then got rid of Fazal Subhan (14) before sending back Zeeshan Jamil (4).

Rao Waqar was the lone Karachi batsman to make a notable contribution of 53 (85 balls, five boundaries) while Adeel Malik hit 54 – the seam bowler’s second half-century in as many games — off 44 deliveries with the help of six fours.

Rao and wicket-keeper Owais Ahmed Rehmani (28) added 61 for the sixth wicket but it was never enough.

Sajjad ended up with five wickets for 67 runs, while off-spinner Sajid Khan and occasional left-arm spinner Israrullah took two each.

Sahibzada Farhan then ensured Peshawar complete the day on a high note by striking an undefeated 68 with his 86-ball knock so far including 11 boundaries as the hosts reached 89-1 at stumps.

In the battle for the remaining Super Eight places, HBL endured a frustrating day at the Multan Cricket Stadium where Wapda were 88-2 in 32.2 overs after stand-in skipper Abdur Rehman opted to field first at the toss.

The game was held up by dusty winds and poor visibility but in the limited action, Fahim Ashraf claimed two early wickets before Wapda captain Salman Butt (43) and Mohammad Saad (38) settled down to add 81 for the unbroken partnership.

Rawalpindi slumped to 96-7 after Fata were bundled out for 120 following their decision to bat first at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Lahore Blues collected 124-5 after dismissing Islamabad for 134 at the Diamond Club Ground in the federal capital. The toss proved vital at this time of the year as seamers Waqar Ahmed (5-47) and Bilawal Iqbal (5-54) took the bowling honours.

Rain at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot completely washed out the first day of the encounter between SSGC and UBL.

NBP restricted Pool ‘B’ leaders KRL to 156-4 after opting to bowl first at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi.

PIA’s last appearance at the first-class level before demotion saw them make 251-9 after defending champions SNGPL asked them to bat first at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

Karachi Whites had a good opening day of their day-night clash at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore when Lahore Whites were dismissed for 236 in the first innings after visiting skipper Mohammad Hasan chose to field first upon winning the toss.

Opener Anas Mahmood, nephew of former Pakistan batsman and ex-chief selector Haroon Rasheed, held the innings together with a knock of 62 from 128 deliveries (seven boundaries).

Lahore Blues skipper Farhan Khan also made a major contribution as the doughty wicket-keeper struck eight boundaries in making 72 from 124 balls as he and Anas stitched together a partnership of 120 after the home side lost four wickets for 53 runs.

Lanky paceman Abdullah Muqaddam justified his recall after spearhead Tabish Khan reported unfit by grabbing four wickets for 79 runs.

Karachi Whites then safely negotiated three overs before stumps.

Close of play scores on Saturday (day one of four):

Seventh and final round:

Pool ‘A’

At Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan: WAPDA 88-2 in 32.2 overs (Salman Butt 43 not out, Mohammad Saad 38 not out; Fahim Ashraf 2-37) vs HBL.

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: UBL vs SSGC — No play due to rain.

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: ISLAMABAD 134 in 31.1 overs (Faizan Riaz 33, Raheel Majeed 25; Waqas Ahmed 5-47,Bilawal Iqbal 5-54); LAHORE BLUES 124-5 in 29 overs (Agha Salman 32, Raza Ali Dar 29; Hasan Ali 3-47, Shehzad Azam Rana 2-42).

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar: KARACHI BLUES 181 in 49 overs (Adeel Malik 54, Rao Waqar 53, Owais Ahmed Rehmani 28; Sajjad Hussain -67, Sajid Khan 2-22, Israrullah 2-26); PESHAWAR 89-1 in 22 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 68 not out)..

Pool ‘B’

At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad: PIA 251-9 in 74 overs (Shahzar Mohammad 71, Shoaib Khan 49, Agha Sabir 34; Ahmed Safi 3-47, Bilawal Bhatti 3-60, Azizullah 2-49) vs SNGPL.

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (day-night fixture): Lahore Whites 236 in 66.1 overs (Farhan Khan 72, Anas Mahmood 62, Ali Azmat 32, Asif Raza 21; Abdullah Muqaddam 4-79, Azam Hussain 2-25, Faraz Ali 2-33, Ghulam Mudassar 2-77); Karachi Whites 3-0 in 3 overs.

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: FATA 120 in 32.4 overs (Mohammad Naeem 52; Nazar Hussain 3-18, Haseeb Azam 3-29, Ataullah 3-30); RAWALPINDI 96-7 in 30 overs (Taimur Khan 22, Yasir Hameed 21; Irfanullah Shah 4-29, Saad Altaf 2-57).

At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi: KRL 156-4 in 64 overs (Abdul Rehman Muzammil 43 not out, Adnan Mahmood 29, Nawaz Ahmed 24, Saeed Anwar Jr 23 not out; Ali Manzoor 2-27) vs NBP.

Published in Dawn November 13th, 2016