By Our Sports Reporter
KARACHI, Nov 20: A spectacular last-wicket stand between Abid Rasool and Ziaul Haq saved Rawalpindi's blushes but their efforts were not enough to stop Karachi Whites (249) from securing a 26-run first innings lead in the National Juniors Cup (Grade-I) final.
Rasool and Haq shared in an unbroken 74-run partnership to guide the tourists to 223 for nine from the stipulated 90 overs after they had collapsed to 149 for nine.
The home team successfully negotiated the last over of the second day's play without losing a wicket after totalling 249 in their first outing.
Karachi Whites' 26-run first innings lead would play the decisive role if the four-dayer ends in a draw. Nevertheless, it would be premature to say if the game would end in a draw as the wicket was still playing true and assisting both the batsmen and the bowlers.
Rasool scored a laborious 49 from 131 balls with three fours while Haq, who had shared in a record 221-run last wicket stand with Ghulam Shabbir last week, scored a quick fire 46 that was studded with six boundaries and a six off 51 balls.
The Karachi bowler who snatched the initiative from Rawalpindi was paceman Mohammad Sami who bowled to a teasing line and length to capture four wickets for 51 runs in 22 overs. The youngsters extracted good pace from the track and swung the ball both ways.
Nevertheless, it was his new ball partner Gohar Ali who provided the inroads to Sami after snapping up two quick wickets.
After Sami demolished the middle-order, Tahir Khan removed the lower-middle-order. But none of the Karachi bowlers could break the resistance by Abid Rasool and Ziaul Haq who batted with admirable courage in trying conditions.
The two received good support from Yasir Mahmood and Babar Naeem. Mahmood hit four boundaries in his 98-ball 33 while Naeem's 56-ball 25 included four hits to the fence.
But the most determined innings came from opener Haroon Rasheed who displayed great concentration, patience and application in his 18 that came off 84 balls after occupying the crease for over two hours.
For the second successive day, it was the top order that struggled to get their willows in contact with the red cherry while the lower-middle-order staged the fight back. But National Stadium is traditionally known for assisting the seamers in the first and last session of play. As these youngsters would get more accustomed to playing here, the more they will learn how to adjust, specially the stroke-makers.