The second round of the Quaid e Azam Trophy came to an end yesterday on November 12. Yet again, it was a story of two different results for the teams from the city. Karachi Blues bettered one this time and delivered a clinical performance to beat Multan Region in the Gold tier, while Karachi Whites suffered another disappointing loss against Sialkot Whites in the Silver tier.
Rameez and debutant Asad shine for Karachi Blues
Karachi Blues entered the match boosted by the return of Abdullah Fazal and Abrar Ahmed. The team management also handed a debut cap to young raw pacer Asad Umer. Batting first, Karachi Blues struggled to build a huge total and were bowled out for 214 runs. Although seven batters reached double figures, none of them could cross the fifty mark. Youngster Haroon Arshad led the way with a steady knock of 48 runs. He also shared a vital partnership of 86 runs for the fourth wicket with experienced captain Rameez Aziz, which turned out to be the highest stand of the innings.
As the defending champions, Karachi needed a strong reply with the ball to stay in the game. Debutant Asad Umer stepped up to the occasion and dismantled the Multan batting lineup. He claimed six wickets for just 45 runs in a dream debut spell. Multan managed 216 runs only because of a stubborn century from Imam ul Haq, who scored 137 runs to give his side a slender lead of two runs.
Karachi Blues had a shaky start to their second innings and slipped to 86 for three. Once again, the dependable Rameez Aziz walked in to rescue his team. Omair Bin Yousuf offered brief support before losing his wicket, which brought Saifullah Bangash to the crease. Together, Rameez and Saifullah batted Multan out of the match with a massive partnership of 255 runs. Saifullah remained unbeaten on 111 runs, while Rameez played a match winning knock of 170 runs.
Chasing a daunting target of 406 runs, Multan collapsed completely against the Karachi bowling attack. Fast bowler Muhammad Raza Chandio, playing only his second first class match, ripped through the opposition with four wickets. Experienced spinner Abrar Ahmed provided great support from the other end as Multan folded for just 130 runs, handing Karachi Blues a massive victory by 275 runs.
Lack of teamwork hurts Karachi Whites
In the Silver tier, Karachi Whites showed glimpses of individual brilliance against Sialkot Whites, but a collective team effort was missing once again. After deciding to bowl first, Karachi conceded 362 runs as Muhammad Tayyab scored a fine century for Sialkot.
In reply, Karachi Whites were dismissed for 236 runs. Muhammad Taha Mehmood top scored with 67 runs, while allrounder Maaz Khurram contributed a handy 48 runs. Sialkot batted poorly in their second turn and were bowled out for 177 runs, yet their big first innings lead meant Karachi Whites faced a challenging target of 304 runs.
The chase fell short as Karachi Whites were bowled out for 249 runs, losing the match by 54 runs. Maaz Khurram fought till the very end and remained unbeaten on 64 runs, while Kashif Ali chipped in with 48 runs. Maaz stood out as the best performer of the match for his side, scoring 112 runs across both innings and taking four wickets for 104 runs in 37.5 overs. However, his solo efforts could not save the team. Until the rest of the squad starts contributing with smaller partnerships and better support, individual performances alone will not be enough to turn these close games into victories.
Captain Rameez praises young talent
Speaking after the game, Blues captain Rameez praised Saifullah for playing a remarkable innings alongside him. The skipper also noted that several regular players are currently away on national duty with the Pakistan squad. He expressed pride in how the young players grabbed their opportunities, adding that having such strong backup will make Karachi Blues an even tougher side once the senior stars return.
