PIA in control against Karachi

PIA remain strong favourites to reach final of Quaid-i-Azam Trophy after 116-run first-innings lead over Karachi Blues

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) remained strong favourites to reach the final of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy after enjoying a 116-run first-innings lead over Karachi Blues before reducing the hosts to 49 for three at stumps on day two.

The deficit would have been greater if it had not been for Tabish Khan who grabbed five wickets for 77 but Faisal Iqbal (54) and Shaharyar Ghani (48) ensured PIA went past 250 and stayed in contention to take on Habib Bank Limited in the final.

Tabish was aided by Babar Rehman and Malik Aftab, who grabbed a brace each.

Facing a huge task of improving on their below-par first-innings total, Karachi were rocked once again by Aizaz bin Ilyas who grabbed two of the three wickets to fall by close. He had earlier grabbed seven wickets in the first-innings to put his side in pole position.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2011.