Hyderabad draw, clinch last semi-final berth

KARACHI: Hyderabad sealed the last available semi-final berth in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-II cricket tournament after taking three points on the first-innings lead in drawn final-round encounter against Sialkot here on Wednesday.

On the final day of action, only Karachi Blues succeeded in winning as they completed a seven-wicket triumph against Larkana here at the National Stadium to further cemented their lead at the top of Pool ‘B’ with 28 points.

The main interest on the third and final day was at TMC Ground where Hyderabad and Sialkot were battling to reach the knockout stage. In the end, Hyderabad edged out Abdur Rehman’s men.

Resuming their second innings in a precarious state at 43-3, Sialkot reached 282-9 before Rehman declared. The overnight pair of Faisal Khan (80 off 143 balls, nine boundaries) and ex-international Mansoor Amjad (87 off 128, eight fours and one six) extended their fourth-wicket partnership to 153 in 194 minutes.

Rehman then banged a blazing 40 from 28 deliveries as the former Pakistan spinner hoisted three sixes and also struck three fours.

Lal Kumar and Nauman Ali picked up three wickets each with slow left-armer ending with match figures of eight for 233.

Hyderabad then safely negotiated 28 overs during which they scored 72-2 after being set an improbable target of 254.

Both Hyderabad and Sialkot finished levelled on pints with 12 apiece but the former not losing any match enabled them to qualify since Sialkot lost an earlier game against Karachi Blues.

Pace duo of Mohammad Umar (4-54) and Mohammad Ali Khan (3-60) shared seven wickets to help Karachi Blues dismiss Larkana for 180 in the second innings.

Resuming at 116-4, the visitors lost their six wickets in the space of 53 runs.

Mohsin Raza was the only Larkana batsman to offer resistance for the second time in the match. He followed up his 59 on Monday with 56 (128 balls, three boundaries).

Left with 68 to record their third win in the competition, Karachi Blues lost three wickets in the process.

Meanwhile, Bahawalpur remained rooted to the bottom of Pool ‘A’ after playing a draw against Quetta at the Dring Stadium in Bahawalpur.

The home side, won earned an 88-run lead on the first inning, declared at 269-6 after starting day three at 33-0.

Moinuddin completed a good double by making 70 to go with his undefeated 160 on Monday as and Mohammad Imran Sr (61) added 98 for the fourth wicket.

In the 15 overs bowled in Quetta’s second innings, the visitors reached 57-2.

The semi-finals will be simultaneously over three days from Saturday with Hyderabad travelling to Multan Cricket Stadium to take on hosts Multan, while Karachi Blues will host Abbottabad at the National Stadium.

The four-day final will be played from May 8 at the venue to be decided after the Pakistan Cup one-day tournament takes place in Faisalabad from April 26.

Scores and results on Wednesday (final day of three):

Fifth round:

Pool ‘A’:

At Dring Stadium, Bahawalpur: Match drawn.

BAHAWALPUR 398-3 in 83 overs (Moinuddin 160 not out, Adeel Basit 108 not out, Rafay Ahmed 51, Mohammad Wasim 48, Mudassar Nazir 22; M. Shahzad Tareen 2-77) and 269-6 declared in 69.3 overs (Moinuddin 70, Mohammad Imran Sr 61, Rafay Ahmed 24, Jahanzaib Manzoor 24 not out); QUETTA 310 in 83 overs (Shahbaz Khan 85, Mohammad Imran 55, Bismillah Khan 45, Hazrat Wali 25, Taimur Khan 24, M. Shahzad Tareen 22; Mohammad Imran Jr 6-129) and 57-2 in 15 overs (Mohammad Imran 26; Mohammad Imran Jr 2-20).

Pool ‘B’:

At National Stadium, Karachi: Karachi Blues beat Larkana by seven wickets.

LARKANA 144 in 54.4 overs (Mohsin Raza 59 not out, Asif Babar 22; Ashiq Ali 3-14, Tariq Haroon 3-19, Mohammad Umar 3-35) and 180 in 57.5 overs (Mohsin Raza 56, Aamir Ali Pahnwar 30, Asif Babar 20; Mohammad Umar 4-54, Mohammad Ali Khan 3-60); KARACHI BLUES 257 in 74.3 overs (Tariq Haroon 79 not out, Amad Alam 64, Saud Shakeel 35, Fahaddis Bukhari 34; Shahnawaz Dhani 5-82, Aamir Ali Pahnwar 4-89) and 68-3 in 12.1 overs (Amad Alam 24; Imran Chandio 2-14).

At TMC Ground, Karachi: Match drawn.

SIALKOT 318 in 81.4 overs (Mansoor Amjad 83, Naeemuddin 68, Usama Mir 52 not out, Kaleem Ahmed 26; Nauman Ali 5-109, Babar Khan 2-56, Lal Kumar 2-93) and 282-9 declared in 59 overs (Mansoor Amjad 87, Faisal Khan 80, Abdur Rehman 40, Adnan Ghaus 23 not out; Lal Kumar 3-23, Nauman Ali 3-124, Asad Malik 2-79); HYDERABAD 347 in 81.3 overs (Saad Khan 173, Shoaib Leghari 71, Rizwan Ahmed 20, Asad Malik 20; Adnan Ghaus 4-65, Usama Mir 2-57, Mansoor Amjad 2-96) and 72-2 in 28 overs (Azeem Ghumman 29).

Final standings

(Tabulated under played, won. lost, drawn, points)

Pool ‘A’

Multan 4 2 0 2 21

Abbottabad 4 2 0 2 18

Quetta 4 1 2 1 9

Azad Jammu Kashmir 4 1 3 0 9

Bahawalpur 4 0 1 3 6

Pool ‘B’

Karachi Blues 4 3 0 1 28

Hyderabad 4 1 0 3 12

Sialkot 4 1 1 2 12