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Islamabad, Oct 14: A magnificent 211 by opener Khalid Latif, studded with 29 fours and four sixes, steered Karachi to a match winning second innings total of 357 all out here on the third day of the four- day National Under-19 Championship final at KRL stadium on Saturday.

Gujranwala given a target of 340 to win, survived early blushes to be 108 for 3 with Asim Munir (15) and Naeemuddin (15) at the crease. Gujranwala need another 232 runs to win with seven wickets in hand.

The impressive Karachi fight-back, after being dominated by Gujranwala for first two days, was single handedly led by opener Khalid Latif. His patient innings can also be seen in the perspective that six team- mates failed to reach double figures and he turned around the set-back from 96 for 5.

Khalid Latif member of Pakistan Under-17 team for Asia Cup and leading scorer for Karachi during the junior 2000 season, displayed what confidence can do to a player. His double hundred was a treat to watch. Resuming at the overnight total of 136 for 5 and a personal score of 77 with partner Zeeshan Ahmed at 12, they raised the tally to 226, adding 130 runs for the sixth wicket.

Khalid crossed the three major marks of 100, 150 and 200 with punching boundaries. His 100 came off 179 balls (232 minutes), 150 off 278 balls (320 minutes) and 200 off 339 balls (399 minutes). The herculean innings was spiced with 29 fours (that alone is 116 runs) and four sixes, all against spinners, two against Nadeem Hussain and one each against Bilal Hussain and Kamran Younis.

He also shared a 78 runs eighth wicket stand with Aftab Ahmed (24 off 43) and was the ninth man out after adding 49 runs with Imran Ahmed (18 off 30). Trying to play cross, Khalid was dismissed leg before by left-arm spinner Kamran Younis. He faced 349 balls for his 211 during his 408 minutes stay at the crease.

Gujranwala which took the second new ball after sixth over of the day (87th over) also did not help their cause with at least four catches floored, two by the wicket-keeper Raheel Ishtiaq. Perhaps the most crucial lapse of the match which will haunt them forever will be Khalid's dropped catch when at 13 on day-two. Gujranwala's Fayyaz Ahmed and Wasim Butt grabbed three wickets each for 56 and 77 runs respectively.

Rejuvenated by the solid total Karachi struck as early as in the fourth over through their captain medium pacer Mohammad Farooq who had all rounder Kamran Younis (4 off 8 balls) caught behind by Aminur Rehman at the total of 12. Gujranwala lost their second wicket when Karachi's most successful bowler of the finalHumair Shafat removed well set opener Atiqueur Rehman at 39 (54 balls). For the second wicket Atiq and skipper Bilal Hussain added 46 runs.

Spinner Zeeshan Ahmed provided the third break-through for Karachi by removing Bilal (26 off 67 balls) at the total of 84. However, Karachi missed a golden chance to further press their control over the final when Asim Munir was dropped at deep mid wicket by Imran Ahmed off Aftab Ahmed. This though resulted in added pressure on the Gujranwala batsmen who did not score on the last six overs till stumps.

© Dawn