KARACHI, Jan 19: A superb sixth-wicket partnership of 149 between Hasan Raza and Amin-ur-Rehman put Karachi Urban in commanding position of their Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Gold League match against Lahore Shalimar at the National Stadium here on Friday.

Hasan, the Karachi Urban captain, and Amin carried the score from 257 to 376 when the latter was out to the final delivery of the day’s play for 79. But by then, the balance had tilted heavily in favour of the home side, currently in front by exactly 200 runs on the first innings.

Lahore Shalimar need a miracle to escape defeat on the remaining two days of the four-day clash, especially after their disastrous first-innings total of 176.

Hasan will resume on third morning with his score on 80 – a knock that has so far spanned almost three-and-a-half hours and included eight fours and one six.

Amin dominated the 117-minute partnership with his captain as he helped himself to 12 boundaries while facing 102 deliveries.

Generally it was a team display from Karachi Urban.

Resuming at 52 for no loss, Khurram Manzoor and Agha Sabir carried the score to 95 before the former was dismissed by part-time off-spin of Lahore Shalimar skipper Salman Butt for a 76-ball 40.

Agha Sabir hit 10 fours on his way to a 165-ball 67 until he fell to Arsalan Mir’s medium-pacers.

Saeed bin Nasir made only 22, but Asif Zakir continued his good form. He scored 53 off 131 balls with seven hits to the ropes.

And although Salman and Arsalan claimed two wickets each, Lahore Shalimar struggled for wickets while as man as eight bowlers were used.

Scoreboard