By Our Sports Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 3: Multan unexpectedly held upperhand over last season's runners-up, Karachi Whites, on the opening day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship Grade-I tie at National Stadium here on Saturday.
After being bowled out for 214, Multan had reduced the Whites to 89 for six in an inspired display in the late afternoon. The Whites ended the day at 107 for six.
Farhan Adil with a patient 28 in 92 minutes off 64 balls held the Whites' innings together with all-rounder Arif Mahmood giving him support with an unbeaten 12.
Swashbuckling Pakistan opener Shahid Afridi batted with usual flurry to make 44 off 40 balls, which included three sixes and two fours before getting carried away and holed out to deep backward square-leg. In fact, Afridi's wicket was one of three in the space of nine balls as the Whites slumped from 62 for three to 66 for five.
Earlier, a career-best four for 54 by left-arm leg-spinner Arif Mahmood saw Multan lose a clatter of wickets in the middle-order. At one stage Multan had been reeling at 93 for seven. But a fighting 70 by wicket-keeper Muhammad Shafiq led the recovery as the last three wickets added 121. Shafiq hit 13 boundaries
Match referee Niaz Ahmed, after consulting the skippers and managers of both teams, has amended the playing schedule as prescribed by the PCB for Ramazan and duly informed the umpires Salim Badar and Feroz Butt. On Saturday, play began at 10.30 in the morning and continued until 1.00 p.m. After an hour's break for prayers and rest, the second session was played until 5.00 p.m. On the subsequent days of this match, play will commence at 10 in the morning and will continue until 4.30 p.m, an hour's interval at 1.00 p.m.
Day 4: Aamir hits century as Karachi Whites win
By Our Sports Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 6: A superb unbeaten century by skipper Aamir Hanif guided Karachi Whites to an easy five-wicket victory over Multan on the fourth and final day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship Grade-I clash at the National Stadium here on Tuesday.
Starting the day at 277 for four in pursuit of a target of 328, the Whites needed 55 minutes to achieve their third win in the current season. Aamir Hanif, who had resumed at his overnight score of 84, duly completed an unblemished hundred while sharing a vital partnership of 118 with Iqbal Imam for the fifth-wicket.
In fact, Iqbal was the only batsman to be out on the last morning when he got a leading edge to an attempted sweep stroke and was nicely held by Shabbir Ahmed, who had to run some distance behind the wicketkeeper from square-leg.
Iqbal's breezy innings of 55 was studded with five fours during a stay of 117 minutes. He faced 79 balls in all.
Aamir, who had reached his second century of the season in 214 minutes off 172 balls with 12 fours and a six, batted in all for 243 minutes. His responsible's captain of 113 not out off 179 balls contained 13 boundaries and two sixes.
In the end, it was a magnificent victory for the Whites after they had conceded an 86-run first innings lead to Multan, who had suffered a 10-wicket defeat against Karachi Blues at the same venue last week. The Whites, who have been the runners-up in the previous two seasons, collected 10 points in this match to take their overall tally to 34 points in eight matches.