Defending champions Sialkot faced an uphill task to beat Karachi Blues in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final.
Sialkot were 12 for no loss at the close of day four at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, needing 520 more runs to defend the title.
Earlier, Karachi Blues added 256 runs to their overnight score of 202-1 before getting bowled out for 458 in 133.4 overs.
Sialkot’s skipper Usama Mir returned figures of 28.4-5-98-5 as Sialkot were kept in the field for almost two days. Mohammad Hasnain sent down 34 overs, taking 3-91, while off-spinner Hamza Nazar and Hasan Ali dismissed one batter each.
Hasnain landed the much-awaited blow for Sialkot, castling day three’s centurion, Abdullah Fazal (114), early in the day, breaking the 170-run stand. Shan Masood then joined Haroon in the middle, and the duo stitched 84 runs for the third wicket.
Shan, who registered his 59th first-class half-century, collected 76 runs off 107 balls, comprising nine fours. The left-hander also went past the 13,000 first-class runs landmark in his 194th game in the format and 335th innings.
Haroon (116) brought up his second first-class century off 219 balls before Hamza removed him with a fine delivery that turned to hit the stumps going between his bat and pad in the 92nd over. Usama bagged his first of five scalps, getting Saud Shakeel caught at slip as Karachi Blues lost seven wickets for 131 runs.
Usman Khan sped up Karachi’s pursuit of an insurmountable target as he contributed 47 off 57 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes, stitching 78 runs with Shan.
Rameez Aziz (30) was the last wicket to fall after he accompanied the tail for 26, 13 and 13-run stands. Usama completed his fifth first-class five-wicket haul.
