Abdullah Fazal’s fine 104 not out puts Karachi Blues in command against Sialkot
At the end of the third day's play of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Karachi Blues lead by 276 with nine wickets in hand
By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Abdullah Fazal slammed a superb century to put Karachi Blues in complete control of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final against Sialkot on Wednesday closing day three with a commanding 276-run second-innings lead at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Karachi reached 202-1 in 64 overs in their second innings, anchored by Abdullah’s unbeaten 104 off 200 balls and a resolute 55 not out from Haroon Arshad. The pair added an unbroken 149-run stand blunting Sialkot for more than 50 overs and leaving the defending champions facing a grinding fourth day.
The Blues had seized the advantage earlier in the morning, wiping out the remainder of Sialkot’s first innings inside 65 balls. Resuming on 235-6, Sialkot were dismissed for 266, handing Karachi a 74-run lead. Pacers Saqib Khan and Muhammad Umar shared the spoils, each taking 4-79.
Hamza Nazar’s stubborn 64 was the first breakthrough of the day, edging Umar to gully to end a vital 75-run seventh-wicket partnership. Hasan Ali’s brisk 41 off 43 balls briefly pushed back, but Karachi’s bowlers swept through the tail as Sialkot’s lower order perished attempting big hits.
In reply, Karachi made a positive start. Opener Saad Baig struck 31 off 39 before falling shortly before lunch — a dismissal that still carried significance as Baig became the first batsman to cross 1,000 runs in the tournament since 2022-23.
From there, Abdullah and Haroon shut the door on Sialkot. Abdullah, following his first-innings 88, raised a half-century from 91 balls and converted it into a composed hundred off 193 deliveries. Haroon, who debuted with a century earlier in the season, registered his maiden first-class fifty off 128 balls.
With nine wickets intact and a large cushion on the board, Karachi Blues enter day four firmly in control and eyeing the domestic title.
Scores in Brief – Day 3 (Stumps)
Final: Sialkot v Karachi Blues, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Karachi Blues lead by 276 runs with nine wickets remaining
Karachi Blues
First innings: 340 all out (81.2 overs) — Abdullah Fazal 88, Usman Khan 82, Saad Baig 39; Mohammad Ali 4-79
Second innings: 202-1 (64 overs) — Abdullah Fazal 104*, Haroon Arshad 55*, Saad Baig 31
Sialkot First innings: 266 all out (71.5 overs) — Mohsin Riaz 71, Hamza Nazar 64, Hasan Ali 41; Saqib Khan 4-79, Muhammad Umar 4-79
