LAHORE, Feb 20: Test discard Hasan Raza, playing a captain’s knock, put Karachi Urban on road to victory against defending champions Sialkot in Quaid-i-Azam Cricket Trophy Gold League final at Multan Stadium on Tuesday.

Hasan struck a brilliant 161 off 245 balls as Karachi Urban earned an imposing first innings total of 403 in 127.4 overs. The problems of reigning champions were further compounded when they lost five top batsmen for a meager first innings score of 93 by close of play. Karachi’s pace duo of Rajesh Ramesh and Imran Javed took two wickets each. The title-holders are still in need of 110 runs to avoid follow-on and will be looking to captain Ejaz Ahmad (19 not out) and Tahir Mughal (9 not out) to take them to a reasonable total.

Hasan’s splendid innings was the main feature of the second day as he led from front. During his gallant stay at the crease for 396 minutes, he hit seven sixes and 12 boundaries, enabling Karachi Urban to set a mounting total.

Hasan resumed the innings at overnight score of 56 with the total at 249-6. He could only get support from Tanvir Ahmed (36, five fours) and both added 97 precious runs for the ninth-wicket.

Medium-pacer Sarfraz Ahmed, who had jolted Karachi Urban on the first day by taking four wickets, finished with six for 93. Medium-pacer Kashif Raza and Tahir Mughal captured two wickets, each.

Scoreboard

KARACHI URBAN (1st innings, overnight 249-6).

Agha Sabir c Khalid b Sarfraz 70

Asif Zakir c Shahid b Kashif 0

Mohtashim Ali lbw b Sarfraz 59

Hasan Raza not out 161

Faisal Iqbal c Khalid b Sarfraz 0

Saeed Bin Nasir c Khalid b Sarfraz 39

Imran Javed c Ijaz b Tahir 1

Tahir Khan c Shahid b Kashif 1

Amin-ur-Rehman c Tariq b Sarfraz 4

Tanvir Ahmed c Khalid b Tahir 36

Rajesh Ramesh b Sarfraz 4

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-9, NB-17) 28

TOTAL (all out, 127.4 overs) 403

FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-130, 3-153, 4-160, 5-234, 6-243, 7-263, 8-291, 9-388.

BOWLING: Kashif Raza 28-7-82-2 (7nb); Tahir Mughal 26-5-72-2; Tariq Mahmood 17-1-60-0; Sarfraz Ahmed 35.4-10-93-6 (2nb); Ali Imran 21-3-85-0 (4nb).

SIALKOT (1st innings).

Hafiz Majid b Rajesh 5

Atiq-ur-Rehman c Tahir b Imran 33

Shahid Yousuf lbw Rajesh 0

Tariq Mehmood c Amin b Imran 2

Ayub Dogger b Tanvir 16

Ejaz Ahmed not out 19

Tahir Mughal not out 9

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-3, W-1, NB-4) 9

TOTAL (for five wkts, 35.1 overs) 93

FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-14, 3-46, 4-55, 5-71.

BOWLING: Tanvir Ahmed 10.1-2-36-1 (1w); Rajesh Ramesh 11-5-18-2; Imran Javed 10-3-28-2 (4nb); Tahir Khan 4-2-7-0.