The Hanif Mohammad Trophy served up contrasting fortunes for Karachi’s two sides as the Blues dismantled Larkana with bat and ball, while the Whites endured a tough outing against Lahore.
Blues ride on Rameez’s brilliance
At the State Bank Sports Complex, Karachi Blues put up a commanding display thanks to Rameez Aziz’s magnificent 150 off just 130 balls. His knock, laced with nine fours and nine towering sixes, set the tone for a dominant innings of 335 in 63.3 overs. Saud Shakeel provided crucial support with a fluent 54, while Mir Hamza’s late cameo of 12 from 11 balls added to the fireworks.
Larkana’s bowlers struggled under the assault, though Mushtaq Ahmed picked up four wickets for 149 runs, and ZahidMehmood delivered a tighter spell with 2 for 32.
In reply, Larkana’s top order crumbled under relentless pressure. Mir Hamza struck early, while Muhammad Hamza and Saqib shared the spoils to leave Larkana tottering at 25 for 3 in just 10 overs at stumps. With MalharRasool (14*) and Faraz Aziz (1*) fighting a losing battle, the Blues walked away with complete control of the contest.
Whites undone by Jamal’s six-for
Karachi Whites had no such joy in Rahim Yar Khan, where Lahore’s bowlers — led by Aamir Jamal — ripped through their batting lineup. Earlier, Lahore piled up 297 in 82 overs, built around Umar Siddique Khan’s composed 94 and Muhammad Mohsin’s stroke-filled 95. QasimAkram chipped in with 27, while Rehman Ghani and Aftab Khan were the pick of Karachi’s bowlers with three wickets each.
In response, Karachi Whites collapsed to just 94 in 32.1 overs. Jamal was unplayable, finishing with figures of 6 for 35 in 12 overs. None of the Whites’ batters crossed 20, with Abdul Basit (19) and SaifullahBangash (14) showing brief resistance before falling to Lahore’s disciplined attack.
The dismal outing underlined Karachi Whites’ batting woes, as early wickets derailed any chance of a competitive response. With Lahore’s bowlers maintaining consistent pressure, the Whites’ lower order folded meekly.
The road ahead
Karachi Blues’ emphatic performance keeps them firmly in contention in Group B, powered by a blend of explosive batting and incisive bowling. Meanwhile, Karachi Whites will need a quick turnaround in their next fixture to stay alive in Group A, with their batting frailties a growing concern.
Both Karachi sides have shown flashes of brilliance in the tournament, but consistency will be the key as the race for Quaid-e-Azam Trophy spots intensifies.
