KARACHI: Abdur Rehman proved on Wednesday that he hadn’t lose none of his guiles as the former Pakistan spinner snared eight wickets to give Habib Bank Limited (HBL) early advantage by dismissing Karachi Whites for 154 here at the UBL Sports Complex.

The day one of the opening round of Super Eight stage in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship primarily belonged to Rehman and Umar Amin, another man with international experience who struck 172 against Peshawar as Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) posted the day’s highest total at the Southend Club.

Elsewhere, ex-Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was holding the fort for holders Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) versus last season’s runners-up Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) at the SBP Sports Complex while Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) struggled for runs against Lahore Blues at the NBP Sports Complex.

Rehman, the 38-year-old left-armer who recently announced retirement from international after having played 22 Tests, 31 One-day Internationals and eight T20 Internationals between 2007 and 2014, tormented Karachi batsmen throughout his spell of 20.4 overs during which he conceded 70 runs.

Having opted to bat first on a slow track, captain Khurram Manzoor (33) and Omair Bin Yousuf (24) put on 45 before Khurram was undone by a brilliant delivery that spun sharply to clean him up.

Umar Amin leads from front with 172 for SSGCL

Rehman struck again on the stroke of lunch by having young Omair caught by Ramiz Aziz. The afternoon session entirely was dominated by Rehman as he went past 650 first-class wickets.

Mirza Asad Baig, who came to the wicket when Khurram was out, was left high and dry on an 89-ball 42 as his incoming partners — after the departure of Mohammad Hasan (26) — deserted him one by one with none managing to get into double figures.

Karachi’s capitulation was quite sensational as Shehzar Mohammad (0), Zeeshan Jamil (5), Hassaan Khan (4), Mohammad Sami (5), Waleed Ahmed (9), Waqar Anwar (1) and Abdullah Mukaddam (4) all left the scene following the departure of Hasan at 106-3.

Seamer Khurram Shahzad denied Rehman the rare opportunity of taking all 10 wickets in the innings by getting rid of Zeeshan and Sami to finish with two for 42 in 15 overs.

HBL’s reply began shakily when Jamal Anwar, fresh from his heroics in the Quaid-i-Azam One-day Cup, was caught behind for only one. His opening partner Mohammad Waqas made 13 before the talented Saad Khan played the innings of the day with a stylish 53 with his 89-ball effort adorned with 10 boundaries.

Umar Akmal, as usual batted as he often does by racing to 32 off 35 balls while striking four boundaries and one six in the third-wicket partnership of 63 with Saad before being bowled by Waleed Ahmed, who like his famous father Tauseef Ahmed, now national selector, is an exponent of off-spin.

Saad too perished just before stump were drawn for the evening with HBL reaching 107-4, while leaving their skipper Imran Farhat (8) and Ramiz (0) with a lot of watchful batting to do on Thursday’s second day.

Umar Amin stole the show after Peshawar skipper Akbar Badshah opted to bowl first in the other Group-II fixture. The elegant left-hander, who appeared in 34 internationals across all three format but none since January this year, scored his 19th first-class ton as SSGCL totalled 336-8. The 29-year-old’s 257-ball innings included 22 fours and two sixes.

Awais Zia also played a crucial with a crisp 93-ball 62 (nine bou­ndaries) as the left-handed opener added 147 with his captain.

Asad Shafiq warmed up for next week’s first New Zealand Test in Abu Dhabi with 50 (131 balls, eight fours) but his Pakistan team-mate Azhar Ali missed out after being declared LBW to Waqas Maqsood for seven as SNGPL posted 232-5 after Wapda captain Salman Butt elected to insert the champions in.

Khurram Shehzad (47) and Iftikhar Ahmed (38) were the other notable run-getters before Misbah (28) and Hussain Talat (18) saw out the remaining time.

Ex-Pakistan seamer Mohammad Asif claimed 3-54 in another sporadic return to competitive cricket.

Meanwhile, KRL endured a tough outing against Lahore Blues after their captain, Usman Arshad, chose to bat first. In 89.4 overs of action, the departmental side only managed to collect 202-7 despite three batsmen — Junaid Ali (49), Usman (45) and Mohammad Mohsin (42) — passing 40.

Slow left-armer Zafar Gohar kept a tight leash on KRL with figures of 3-69 in 32.4 overs with his third victim, Nauman Ali, perishing on what proved to the final ball of a dreary day.

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

Super Eight stage, first round:

Group-I:

At SBP Sports Complex, Karachi: SNGPL 232-5 in 90 overs (Asad Shafiq 50, Khurram Shehzad 48, Iftikhar Ahmed 38, Misbah-ul-Haq 28 not out, Imran Butt 28, Hussain Talat 18 not out; Mohammad Asif 3-54) vs WAPDA.

At NBP Sports Complex, Karachi: KRL 202-7 in 89.4 overs (Junaid Ali 49, Usman Arshad 45, Mohammad Mohsin 42, Nayyar Abbas 34 not out; Zafar Gohar 3-69, Aizaz Cheema 2-45) vs LAHORE BLUES.

Group-II:

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: KARACHI WHITES 154 in 54.4 overs (Hafiz Asad Baig 42 not out, Khurram Manzoor 33, Mohammad Hasan 26, Omair Bin Yousuf 24; Abdur Rehman 8-70, Khurram Shahzad 2-42); HBL 107-4 in 35 overs (Saad Khan 53, Umar Akmal 32; Waleed Ahmed 2-22).

At Southend Club, Karachi: SSGCL 336-8 in 92 overs (Umar Amin 172, Awais Zia 62, Adil Amin 31; Mohammad Ilyas 3-61, Zahid Mahmood 2-102) vs PESHAWAR.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2018