LAHORE: Out of nine matches, seven produced results as the first round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy concluded on Tuesday, marking an interesting start to the premier domestic first-class tournament at various venues.

In a major upset, newcomers Dera Murad Jamali shocked Lahore Blues, clinching victory by 119 runs here at the Saeed Sports City Ground, Bedian. The hero for Dera Murad Jamali was Abu Huraira, whose five-wicket haul dismantled Lahore’s chase. Starting the day at 73-3, needing 319 to win, Lahore Blues managed only 200 runs in 55.3 overs. Despite valiant half-centuries from Junaid Ali (60 off 73 balls) and Hammad Butt (51 off 79), the team fell short.

Meanwhile, Lahore Whites completed a five-wicket victory over Faisalabad at the Diamond Ground in Islamabad. Needing just 72 runs on the final day, Lahore Whites reached their 110-run target in 15 overs. Tayyab Tahir (32 not out) and Ubaid Shah (22 not out) ensured there were no further hiccups, stitching together an unbeaten 60-run stand for the sixth wicket after Lahore had been reduced to 62-5.

At Marghazar Ground in Islamabad, Hyderabad bested Larkana by 121 runs. Jawad Ali’s four-wicket haul, captain Kashif Bhatti’s three, and Bilawal Bhatti’s two wickets bowled Hyderabad to victory as Larkana were skittled out for 175, chasing a target of 297.

Another thrilling finish saw Bahawalpur secure a three-wicket win over Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) at Abbottabad Stadium. Mohammad Sheharyar (46 not out) and Ali Shabbir (33 not out) put on an unbeaten 96-run partnership for the eighth wicket, guiding Bahawalpur to the target of 123 runs on the final day. For AJK, Faizan Saleem’s six wickets, giving him match figures of 8-112, stood out in a losing effort.

Elsewhere, Sialkot registered a dominant 10-wicket win over FATA at Jinnah Stadium in Gujranwala. Usama Mir’s four wickets and Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti’s three helped Sialkot bundle out FATA in the second innings. Mohsin Riaz starred with an unbeaten 204 in Sialkot’s first innings total of 535.

Matches between Multan and Rawalpindi at Shoaib Akhtar Academy in Rawalpindi, as well as Peshawar and Karachi Whites at Ashfaq Ground in Charsadda, ended in draws.

Scores in brief:

Lahore Whites beat Faisalabad by five wickets at Diamond Ground, Islamabad

LAHORE WHITES 274 in 90.4 overs (Attyab Ahmed 69, Obaid Shahid 59, Saad Nasim 52; Khurram Shahzad 5-71, Shehzad Gul 3-53) & 122-5 in 24.3 overs (Tayyab Tahir 32 not out, Ubaid Shah 22 not out); Faisalabad 91 in 31 overs (Atiq-ur-Rehman 26; Ahmed Bashir 7-27) & 301 all out in 86.2 overs (Atiq-ur-Rehman 94, Ali Shan 80; Mohammad Salman 6-73)

Bahawalpur beat AJK by three wickets at Abbottabad Stadium

AJK 238 in 75.5 overs (Hasan Raza 105) & 192 in 55.3 overs (Raja Farhan Khan 37); Bahawalpur 229 in 64.3 overs (Mohammad Ammar 82) and 202-7 in 75.2 overs (Mohammad Sheharyar 46 not out, Ali Shabbir 33 not out; Faizan Saleem 6-63).

Dera Murad Jamali bt Lahore Blues by 119 runs at Saeed Sports City, Bedian, Lahore; Sialkot bt Fata by 10 wickets at Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala; Karachi Blues beat Quetta by nine wickets at Rana Naveed Academy, Sheikhupura; Multan vs Rawalpindi and Peshawar vs Karachi Whites ended in draws.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2024