QEAT: Batters script Karachi Whites comeback against Lahore Whites

Ammad Alam, Asad Shafiq and Khurram Manzoor scored centuries and powered Karachi Whites to 432-4 in response to Lahore Whites’ 509/9 in the fourth-round match of the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) 2023/24.

A 168-run opening wicket partnership between centurions Khurram Manzoor (110, 248b, 9x4s, 2x6s) and Ammad Alam (102, 158b, 11x4s, 4x6s) helped Karachi Whites post 432 for four in 125 overs against Lahore Whites first innings score of 509 for nine declared.

Asad Shafiq, coming to bat at number four, continued his fine form in the tournament, scoring his second century. He fell to Saad Nasim for 113 off 174, which included 12 boundaries.

Fahad Iqbal was the other notable run-getter for his side, returning undefeated on 60 off 142 balls, hitting four fours.

Leg-spinner Saad was the most successful bowler for his team, grabbing two wickets for 51 runs.

Meanwhile, in another fourth-round QEAT fixture, Rawalpindi were just 13 runs short of the 203-run target set by Faisalabad at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. This will be Rawalpindi’s first win of the tournament.

Resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 135 for five in 47.2 overs, Faisalabad were dismissed for 234 in 74.4 overs. Abubakar Khan was the only notable batter for Faisalabad, scoring 67 off 160 balls, hitting nine boundaries.

For Rawalpindi, Mohammad Faizan bagged four wickets for 84 and ended up with match figures of nine for 119 in 34 overs.

Chasing 203 to win, Rawalpindi’s opening pair of Abdul Faseeh and Zeeshan Malik (26, 62b, 2x4s) provided a solid 61-run start to the innings. After the departure of Zeeshan, Hasan Raza (22, 32b, 3x4s) joined Abdul and the pair knitted 42 runs for the second wicket.

At stumps, Rawalpindi were 190 for two in 48 overs. Abdul returned undefeated on 99 off 148 balls, smashing 15 fours, while Ashfaq Ahmed remained not out on 40 off 46 balls, which included seven fours. The pair added an unbroken 87 runs for the third wicket.

In the 16th match of the QEAT, Multan’s Zahid Mahmood bagged five wickets to dismiss FATA for 348 and also enforced a follow-on, who were dismissed for 348 in 90.2 overs in reply to Multan’s first innings score of 529 for five declared in 111.4 overs.

Right-arm leg-spinner Zahid took five wickets for 135 runs in 28 overs. For FATA, Akif Javed (53 not out, 33b, 2x4s, 6x6s) and Mohammad Sarwar (51, 103b, 6x4s) scored half-centuries.

After being enforced a follow-on, FATA ended the day on 167 for three in 50 overs, still trailing by 14 runs. Salman Khan top-scored for his side with 76 off 153 balls, hitting 12 fours.

Lahore Blues were in a spot of bother in their fourth-round QEAT match against Peshawar when third day’s play ended.

Lahore Blues were leading by 123 runs with three second innings wicket remaining. Usman Salahuddin top-scored for Lahore Blues with a 112-ball 44, which included five fours and a six.

For Peshawar, Mohammad Ilyas, Niaz Khan and Sajid Khan bagged two wickets each.

Earlier, resuming their first innings at the overnight score of 224 for four, Peshawar were dismissed for 360 in 95.4 overs.

Sajid Khan coming to bat at number eight scored 39 off 62 balls, hitting four boundaries. Niaz Khan, batting at number 10 added a 57-ball 33, which included four boundaries.

For Lahore Blues, Kashif Bhatti bagged four wickets for 59, while Waqas Ahmed took three wickets for 87.

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