KARACHI: A commanding double-century from experienced batterShan Masood, coupled with a fiery bowling display led by Saqib Khan and guest player Kashif Bhatti, powered Karachi Blues to a comprehensive 193-run victory over Abbottabad in Round 7 of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
The win — Karachi’s third of the season from seven matches (two wins, two draws before this result) — lifts them firmly back into contention as they jumped to the second spot at the points table, with several standout individual performances defining their most complete outing of the campaign.
The Blues accumulated 110 points from seven games, sitting behind leaders Sialkot Region, who dominate the proceedings with 126 points from the same number of games.
After being bowled out for 258 in the first innings, Karachi Blues responded with an emphatic second-innings statement.
Shan Masood led from the front with a magnificent, unbeaten 250 off 234 balls, an authoritative display decorated with trademark drives and ruthless strike rotation.
Shan’s double-ton — his first of the season — turned the match decisively Karachi’s way.
He found a strong ally in Rameez Aziz, who struck a fluent 78 off 81 deliveries, as Karachi piled up a massive 451/5 declared to set Abbottabad an improbable chase.
Earlier in the first innings, Danish Aziz’s fighting 89 off 152 had rescued Karachi from early trouble, supported by a brisk 43 from Shan Masood (48 balls).
If Shan ruled the batting charts in this match, the bowling honours once again belonged to Saqib Khan, who produced yet another match-defining performance to cement his status as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
Saqib tore through Abbottabad’s first innings with a sensational 7 for 34, swinging and seaming the ball with control that the visitors never solved.
He added 2 for 82 in the second innings to finish with 9 wickets in the match, extending his breakout season.
The Guest Player
Playing his first match for Karachi as a guest player, veteran left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti delivered a superb all-round bowling display, claiming: 2 for 60 in the first innings and 6 for 98 in the second.
His match figures of 8 wickets ensured constant pressure on Abbottabad’s batting, especially in the final innings where his sustained accuracy forced crucial breakthroughs.
Abbottabad’s best moments came through: Khayam Khan’s 59 and Shahzaib Khan’s 37 in the first innings and Ahmed Khan’s gritty 88 and Shahab Khan’s 56 in the second.
But the combined force of Saqib’s pace and Kashif’s spin proved too much, as Abbottabad folded for 191 and 325 across the two innings.
With a 193-run win sealed, and a string of players hitting peak form for Karachi. They now look like one of the most balanced and dangerous teams heading into the final stretch of the season.
