KARACHI: It was a productive second day for Karachi’s two regional sides in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy group stage, with both the Blues and the Whites tightening their grip on their respective fixtures.
Blues vs Rawalpindi
The day belonged to Mohammad Asghar and Omair Bin Yousuf, as Karachi Blues piled pressure on Rawalpindi.
Resuming on Day 2, Rawalpindi folded for just 184 in 56.2 overs. Yasir Khan (66) and Taimur Khan (41) offered resistance, but Asghar’s left-arm spin proved unplayable. He ran through the order with figures of 6 for 68, ably supported by Ashiq Ali (3 for 51).
Karachi Blues then stamped their dominance with the bat. Omair Bin Yousuf played with authority, bringing up a fluent 100 off 138 balls, while opener Abdullah Fazal narrowly missed out on a ton, dismissed for a brisk 97 off 98 deliveries. Together, they laid the foundation for a massive total of 425 in 104.3 overs.
Rawalpindi’s Mehran Mumtaz toiled hard, taking 6 for 155, but found little support from the other end. Mubasir Khan chipped in with two wickets.
Batting again, Rawalpindi reached 100 for 2 in 27 overs by stumps, still trailing by 141 runs. Abdul Faseeh (47)* looked compact at the crease, but with Asghar and Ashiq already among the wickets, Karachi Blues remain firmly in control heading into Day 3.
Whites vs AJK
At Multan, SaifullahBangash and Muhammad Taha starred with the bat as Karachi Whites put up a commanding total against Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The pair built the innings with patience and discipline, Tahaagonisingly falling short of a century on 98 off 288 balls, while skipper Bangash stood tall with an unbeaten 110 off 184 deliveries. Their efforts lifted the Whites to a massive 450 for 8 declared in 136 overs.
AJK’s bowlers struggled for penetration, though FaizanSaleem (2 for 72) and M Jawad (2 for 73) showed persistence across long spells.
In reply, AJK made a solid start, reaching 113 for 1 in 37 overs at stumps. Captain Hassan Raza (64)* and Hasnain Shamir (42)* negotiated Karachi’s attack with confidence, ensuring the deficit was reduced to 337 runs with nine wickets intact. MaazKhurram (1 for 18) provided the lone breakthrough for the Whites.
With Asghar’s six-for and Omair’s century propelling the Blues, and Bangash’s ton alongside Taha’s near miss bolstering the Whites, Karachi’s regional sides are well positioned to push for outright wins. Day 3 promises to be crucial, especially for Rawalpindi and AJK, who must bat long to avoid defeat against two Karachi outfits brimming with confidence.
