LAHORE: Saim Ayub’s unbeaten double ton and Shan Masood’s 180 laid a solid platform for Karachi Whites to dictate terms against Faisalabad Region as the Quaid-e-Azam trophy final began here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Karachi Whites amassed 398 runs for the loss of two wickets before the bails were removed for the first day of the five-day final of the country’s premier first-class tournament.

Faheem Ashraf’s decision to bowl first in foggy conditions seemed to be fruitful as they removed Karachi Whites’ opener Khurram Manzoor (three) in just the fourth over of the day courtesy of a quick straight delivery by pacer Khurram Shahzad that trapped the veteran plumb in front.

But the duo of Shan and Saim, who finished the day on exactly 200, steadied the inning as they stitched a massive 367-run partnership and hit Faislabad’s bowlers all over the park to tilt the momentum on their side.

Shan recorded the 24th first-class ton of his career, smashing 13 boundaries and seven sixes along his 182-ball stay at the crease while Saim got his second century of the tournament, belting 22 fours and two maximums in the 244-ball knock.

It seemed that the two might see off the day unbeaten but fast-bowler Arshad Iqbal finally got the breakthrough for Faislabad as Shan chopped the ball onto his own stumps.

Soon after Shan’s dismissal, it was again celebrations for Karachi Whites as Saim completed his double-century with a single on the on-side.

Omair Bin Yousuf was unbeaten on two at the other end and will start the second day alongside Saim at the crease.

Faisalabad will be hoping for a better outing on the second day after only Khurram and Arshad were able to pick a wicket as Karachi Whites maintained a run-rate of 5.10.

SCOREBOARD

KARACHI WHITES:

Khurram Manzoor lbw b Khurram3

Saim Ayub not out200

Shan Masood b Arshad180

Omair Bin Yousuf not out2

EXTRAS (LB-7, NB-1, W-5)13

TOTAL (for two wickets,78 overs)398

STILL TO BAT: Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Noman Ali, Mir Hamza, Shahnawaz Dahani, Ghulam Mudassar, Ghazi Ghouri

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-15 (Khurram), 2-382 (Shan)

BOWLING: Khurram 17-1-60-1 (1nb), Faheem 15-0-67-0 (3w), Ali

5-0-28-0, Arshad 14-2-57-1, Asif 2-0-15-0, Ali 20-0-132-0, Taimoor 5-0-32-0 (1w)

Faisalabad Region Team: Ali Waqas, Muha­m­mad Hurraira, Asif Ali, Taimoor Sultan, Fah­eem Ashraf, Ali Shan, Irfan Khan, Khurram Sha­h­zad, Arshad Iqbal, Mohammad Ali, Ali Asfand

Published in Dawn, October 23th, 2023