KARACHI, Dec 14: Sialkot completed a resounding two-day rout of Bahawalpur on Saturday to seal their place in the Super Eight phase of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship as they annihilated their hapless opponents by an innings at the Dring Stadium in Bahawalpur.

Bahawalpur, who were shot out for 39, managed a paltry 95 in the second innings just after lunch on the second day of the four-day Group-I match. Sialkot claimed 10 points to move second in the standings behind Rawalpindi.

Rawalpindi were firmly in control against reigning champions Karachi Blues at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. After dismissing the visitors for 266 with paceman Nasir Malik taking the remaining two wickets to finish with five for 108, Rawalpindi reached 320-4 at stumps.

Ex-international Awais Zia, who had threatened big runs in the past few weeks, finally struck 123 (142 balls, 20 boundaries) as he and the in-form Muzammil Nizam (56 not out) added 155 for the fourth wicket.

Left-handed opener Israrullah bludgeoned a career-best 184 as Peshawar powered their way to 317-2 after Lahore Ravi were all out for 239 at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar. Israrullah, whose 207-ball knock has thus far been laced with 26 fours and three sixes, has been the dominant partner in the ongoing third-wicket stand of 222 with Mohammad Idrees (74).

Group-II leaders Karachi Whites posted 427-8 in reply to Multan’s 116 here at the National Stadium. Saad Ali scored 101 (222 balls, 17 fours and one six) before Fahim Ahmed (67) and Khurram Shahzad (76) shared an unlikely ninth-wicket partnership of 131.

Hyderabad lost four wickets in making 164 after Faisalabad got 323 in their first innings at the Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad. Off-spinner Nasir Awais was easily the best bowler for the home team with six for 80 in 30.5 overs.

Islamabad, inspired by Faizan Riaz’s superb contribution of an undefeated 256 (211 balls, 42 fours), were in sight of a three-day win after forcing Quetta to follow on at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad.

Quetta were all out for 208 after the hosts closed their innings at 444-8. Paceman Shehzad Azam Rana bagged five wickets for 63 runs. Batting again, the visitors ended the day at 3-1.

Close of play scores and result on Saturday (day two of four):

Group-I:

At Dring Stadium, Bahawalpur: Sialkot beat Bahawalpur by an innings and 19 runs.

BAHAWALPUR 39 in 19 overs (Hasan Ali 6-15, Waqas Ahmed 3-14) and 95 in 35 overs (Zahir Siddiqui 23 not out; Mansoor Amjad 3-5, Waqas Ahmed 3-28, Hasan Ali 3-50); SIALKOT 153 in 45.5 overs (Mansoor Amjad 64; Wasim Mustafa 4-22, Zahir Siddiqui 3-50).

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: KARACHI BLUES 266 in 81.2 overs (Abdul Jabbar 85, Naved Khan 48, Faraz Ahmed Khan 43; Nasir Malik 5-108, Tayyab Abbas 3-68, Babar Naeem 2-39); RAWALPINDI 320-4 in 73 overs (Awais Zia 123, Babar Naeem 78, Muzammil Nizam 56 not out; Ali Mudassar 2-44, Rajesh Ramesh 2-62).

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar: LAHORE RAVI 239 in 90.4 overs (Tanzeel Altaf 52, Jahangir Mirza 51, Abdul Wahab Dar 40, Yousuf Ali 36; Azizullah 4-46, Azam Khan 2-52, Jibran Khan 2-53); PESHAWAR 317-2 in 73 overs (Israrullah 184 not out, Mohammad Idrees 74 not out, Adil Amin 51; Bilawal Iqbal 2-79).

Group-II:

At National Stadium, Karachi: MULTAN 116 in 34.3 overs (Ahad Raza 47, Mir Hamza 5-32, Babar Rehman 3-36, Khurram Shahzad 2-25); KARACHI WHITES 427-8 in 126 overs (Saad Ali 101, Khurram Shahzad 76 not out, Fahim Ahmed 67 not out Mohammad Waqas 39, Asif Zakir 31; Kumail Abbas 5-123).

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad: FAISALABAD 323 in 101.5 overs (Ammar Mahmood 147, Imran Ahmed 60, Moazzam Hayat 44; Nasir Awais 6-80, Mir Ali Talpur 2-70); HYDERABAD 164-4 in 66 overs (Haris Khan 44, Faisal Athar 38 not out, Shabih Haider 38; Imran Ahmed 2-24).

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: ISLAMABAD 444-8 declared in 94 overs (Faizan Riaz 256 not out, Zeeshan Ali 62, Mohammad Kashif 34; Gohar Faiz 4-118, Arun Lal 3-120); QUETTA 208 in 56.5 overs (Umar Qasim 58 not out; Shehzad Azam Rana 5-63, Nasrullah Khan 3-49) and 3-1 in 2 overs.—Sports Reporter