KARACHI, Dec 15 Dethroned champions Sialkot failed to cash in on a century opening stand as they reached 316 against Group 'B' leaders Karachi Blues on the first day of the last-round matches in the RBS Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship on Tuesday.

After being into bat by the stand-in Blues skipper Khalid Latif, Sialkot made a fine start as captain Kamran Younis and Hafiz Majid Jahangir shared a partnership of 126 before the latter departed for 38.

Kamran looked in prime form as he struck 17 fours and one six in a run-a-ball knock of 107. But once he went, Karachi Blues hit back through their in-form paceman Tanvir Ahmed who once again nudged the national selectors with 4-102 to extend his haul of wickets to 72 in the ongoing championship.

Adnan Butt was the only other Sialkot batsman to make a worthy contribution — a painstaking 41. Tariq Haroon provided good support to Tanvir by claiming 3-88. The Blues batted one over without scoring.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Rameez captured eight wickets in an innings for the second time this season to help Rawalpindi rout hosts Multan for a paltry 108. The 19-year-old right-arm promising paceman finished with 8-46. Rawalpindi were 54-2 at draw of stumps.

Rizwan Ahmed (113 off 144 balls, 17 fours and one six) and skipper Saeed bin Nasir (74 off 98 balls, 11 fours and one six) helped Sui Southern Gas Company score 293 in their first innings after being asked to bat first by Karachi Whites at the Southend Cricket Club Stadium. The Whites replied with 16-1.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Lahore Habib Bank's preparations for next week's final in Karachi suffered badly as they crashed to a poor 141 all out in their first innings against Lahore Shalimar at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Lahore Shalimar, seeking their first win this season, reduced the bankers to 30-7 after Hasan Raza took the bold step of batting first after winning the toss in wintry conditions. All-rounder Kamran Hussain (54) saved his side an embarrassing capitulation as he and Irfan Fazil (38) together put on 97 priceless runs for the eighth wicket. These two were the only batsmen to reach double figures.

The wrecker-in-chief was the 20-year-old medium-pacer Hasan Dar who returned excellent figures of 7-53 in only his sixth first-class match. Mohammad Naved chipped in with 3-38.

Lahore Shalimar completed a good day's work by finishing on 79-1 with opener Abid Ali (52) leading their reply.

Scores on Tuesday (day one of four)

Group 'A'

At Southend Club Cricket Stadium, Karachi SSGC 293 in 74.4 overs (Rizwan Ahmed 115, Saeed bin Nasir 74; Ali Mudassar 3-49, Tabish Khan 3-74); KARACHI WHITES 16-1 in 6 overs.

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore HABIB BANK 141 in 37.1 overs (Kamran Hussain 54, Irfan Fazil 38; Hasan Dar 7-53, Mohammad Naved 3-38); LAHORE SHALIMAR 79-1 in 29 overs (Abid Ali 52 not out).

At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad SNGPL 259 in 75.1 overs (Usman Arshad 105; Mohammad Talha 3-67) v NATIONAL BANK.

At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi PAKISTAN CUSTOMS 197 in 56.2 overs (Jibran Khan 69; Akhtar Ayub 3-42); KRL 72-2 in 17.3 overs.

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad PIA 242-7 in 75 overs (Yasir Hameed 85, Fahad Iqbal 36; Zohaib Khan 3-34) v ZTBL.

Group 'B'

At National Stadium, Karachi SIALKOT 316 in 79.5 overs (Kamran Younis 107, Adnan Butt 41, Hafiz Majid Jahangir 38; Tanvir Ahmed 4-102, Tariq Haroon 3-88); KARACHI BLUES 0-0 in 1 over.

At Municipal Sports Complex, Mirpurkhas QUETTA 279-9 in 83 overs (Jalat Khan 78, Ata-ur-Rehman 74; Kashif Bhatti 3-49, Mir Ali Talpur 3-49) v HYDERABAD.

At Multan Cricket Stadium MULTAN 108 in 47 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 36; Mohammad Rameez 8-46); RAWALPINDI 54-2 in 24.1 overs.

At LCCA Ground, Lahore LAHORE RAVI 276-3 in 71.5 overs (Kashif Siddique 112, Sohail Ahmed 61 not out, Asim Naz 37 not out) v ISLAMABAD.

At Sports Stadium, Sargodha ABBOTTABAD 293-6 in 74 overs (Waqar Orakzai 74, Ehteshamuddin 48, Fawad Khan 48; Zahoor Khan 4-70) v FAISALABAD.