Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Karachi Whites and Faheem Ashraf-led Faisalabad qualified for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) 2023/24 final after their respective seventh-round fixtures failed to contribute a result.
Owing to the influence of rain on the previous three days of play across the four venues of the QEAT 2023-24, no definitive results could be produced on the final day of round seven of the tournament, with all four games ending in draws.
Faheem Ashraf’s Faisalabad and Sarfaraz Ahmed’s Karachi Whites topped the points table after the conclusion of the seventh round.
Consequently, the two sides will now lock horns in the final of the QEAT 2023/24, scheduled to be played from 22 to 26 October at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
In their final group stage fixture, Lahore Blues failed to bank on their first innings demolition as they settled for a stalemate against Karachi Whites.
Resuming from their overnight score of 146 for six in 40 overs, Lahore Blues ended with an innings total of 203 in 58.2 overs on the final day.
Hashim Ibrahim (51, 71b, 8x4s) was the highest scorer for the side. His efforts were supported by Qasim Akram (38, 57b, 5x4s). Left-arm pacer Mir Hamza returned with four wickets while left-arm spinner Noman Ali got three wickets for Karachi.
In their second attempt, Karachi Whites posted 213 runs in 54 overs, while losing six wickets in the innings. Omair Bin Yousuf (65, 87b, 4x4s, 4x6s) and Khurram Manzoor (48, 101b, 6x4s) top-scored for the side.
Usman Qadir and Asfand Mehran got two wickets each, while pacers Ali Shafiq and Hunain Shah returned with a wicket apiece.
The match was drawn when no definitive result was deemed possible on the final day of play.
In the 25th match of the ongoing QEAT 2023/24, Lahore Region Whites only got to bat three overs in the final innings against Faisalabad before the two captains shook hands to draw the match.
At the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Faisalabad started their day from 238 runs for four in 59 overs. They got to 472 runs in 128.2 overs before getting bowled out.
Ali Waqas (151 not out, 282b, 17x4s) was the standout batter in the innings. Irfan Khan Niazi (99, 152b, 10x4s, 1×6) and Mohammad Huraira (87, 121b, 13x4s) were the other contributors with the bat.
Aamer Jamal and Saad Naseem both returned with three wickets each in the innings.
Another last-round QEAT 2023/24 fixture between Rawalpindi and Multan was heavily impacted by rain on three days and was drawn when no definitive results could be foreseen.
Rawalpindi resumed from their overnight score of 150 for two in 43 overs. After batting for 118 overs, they posted 501 runs on the board, losing four wickets in the process.
Haider Ali (170 not out, 228b, 16x4s, 2x6s) was the star performer for the side. Umar Amin (153, 218b, 15x4s, 1×6) was the other prominent batter.
Zeeshan Malik scored a half-century as well, getting to 56 runs in 80 balls, including six boundaries and one maximum.
Meanwhile, another seventh-round QEAT 2023/24 fixture between the FATA Region and Peshawar ended with no result after the first three days of play were washed out.
FATA won the toss and elected to bowl first at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Sahibzada Farhan produced a solid knock, hitting 140 in 148 balls with 27 boundaries.
Kamran Ghulam (102 not out, 177b, 9x4s, 2x6s), Mehran Ibrahim (50 not out, 94b, 5x4s, 1×6), Zain Khan (44, 51b, 10x4s) were the other contributors with the bat. Asif Afridi bagged two wickets while Akif Javed got one wicket to his name.
Peshawar stood at 360 for three at the close of play. The match was drawn.
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