Karachi Blues shock Islamabad

Karachi Blues handed a shock 120-run defeat to Islamabad in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy as Akbarur Rehman cleaned up the tail, claiming three for five. Chasing 210 to win on the final day, Islamabad were bundled out for an embarrassing 89 as Karachi won their first match of the tournament. Resuming at eight for no loss, Islamabad collapsed to lose all their 10 wickets for 67 runs. Rehman took the last three wickets but it was Ruman Raess who started the rout as he finished with three for 20.

The defeat was sweeter to Karachi after they conceded a 49-run first-innings lead after Islamabad managed 289. Karachi were then bowled out for 258 in the second-innings to set a competitive target on the final day.

However, Islamabad’s miserable show pushed them to 10th place in the 12-team tournament while Blues still languish at 11th.

NBP cruise to win

NBP humiliated Wapda by nine wickets as they chased the 64-run target in just the sixth over. Umar Amin hit a whirlwind 37 off just 17 balls after Wapda were bowled out for 224 owing to superb bowling by Mohammad Talha. Wapda, who conceded a first-innings lead of 161 after NBP amassed 432, resumed on 93 for four but Talha ensured his team’s batsmen had little work to do as he claimed six for 53. The bowler now has 48 wickets in the tournament from nine games as the list is headed by ZTBL’s Mohammad Khalil who has 56.

NBP are placed sixth with 36 points while Wapda are joint-third with 45.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2010.