Karachi Blues survives in Quaid-E-Azam Trophy Grade-II Cricket Tournament 2018/19
Saud Shakeel saves Karachi Blues from humiliation on the opening day of their four-day final of the Quaid-E-Azam Trophy Grade-II against Faisalabad at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.
Talented left-handed batsman Saud Shakeel fought well with a solid 83 to prevent Karachi Blues from humiliation as they reached 194-7 in their first innings on the opening day of their four-day final.
The 23-year-old Saud kept his cool, hammering 13 fours in his gutsy 120-ball knock to take Karachi to a respectable total as only 45.2 overs were bowled because of wet conditions. After being invited to bat first by Faisalabad’s skipper Misbah Ul Haq, Karachi Blues lost their opener Ali Asad (10) early.
Ali, who was removed by left-arm pacer Waqas Maqsood, struck two fours in his 23-ball knock. Saud and young Hassan Mohsin (37) made Faisalabad bowlers toil for wickets by sharing 84 runs for the second wicket to create a hope for staging a good total.
But after test discard Ehsan Adil broke the partnership by getting rid of Hassan, Karachi Blues experienced a collapse. Ehsan had skipper Asad Shafiq on a first ball duck before Waqas sent Fawad Alam (2) back to the pavilion to leave Karachi Blues reeling at 104-4.
Waqas had Rameez Aziz (14) after the left-hander had hammered two fours in 12 balls. Akbar-ur-Rehman (27) and Saud shared 55 valuable runs for the sixth wicket to improve the team’s total.
Akbar smashed five fours from 29 deliveries. At stumps Ashiq Ali (0*) and Tabish Khan (0*) were at the crease. Ehsan was the pick of the bowlers with 4-51. Waqas got 3-61 in 14 overs.
Ghaffar Kazmi and Qaiser Waheed supervised the match while Bilal Khilji was the match referee. The team that wins this match will earn a ticket for next season’s first-class cricket if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) does not amend the current structure.
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