Mohsin, Hamza blast fifties to help Sialkot recover in QT final

By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Sialkot engineered a solid fightback on the second day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final on Monday, with Hamza Nazar and Mohsin Riaz steering the defending champions to 235-6 in their first innings in reply to Karachi Blues’ 340, leaving them 105 runs behind at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Hamza held the innings together with an unbeaten 62 while Mohsin counterattacked for 71 as the pair added 95 for the fifth wicket to stabilise Sialkot after an early collapse.
Karachi Blues, resuming on 285-6, added 55 brisk runs before being dismissed for 340 in 81.2 overs. Mohammad Ali led Sialkot’s response with a sharp morning spell, removing Usman Khan for 82 and Kashif Bhatti for 13 in successive overs before Muhammad Umar’s brief 16-run cameo ended at point.
Saqib Khan pushed Karachi past 330 with an aggressive 33 off 26 balls, striking three fours and a six before being caught off Ali, who finished with figures of 4-79 and moved to 32 wickets for the season.
Sialkot’s reply faltered early as Mushtaq Ahmed induced an inside edge from Azan Awais and Saqib trapped Mohammad Hurraira lbw to leave them at 13-2. Abdullah Shafique (32) and Abdul Rehman (14) steadied the innings with a 49-run stand before both fell shortly after lunch, Rehman edging Umar to slips and Abdullah got run out by a direct hit from Mushtaq.
At 73-4, Sialkot faced the prospect of conceding a commanding first-innings deficit but Hamza and Mohsin combined to halt Karachi’s momentum. Mohsin survived a reprieve on 22 when Umar overstepped on a ball that bowled him and he capitalised by adding 49 more runs before holing out in the 46th over. Karachi struck again immediately, removing Afzaal Manzoor for a 14-ball duck to reduce Sialkot to 170-6.
Hasan Ali then joined Hamza and counterpunched late in the day, striking 29 not out off 27 deliveries. The pair added an unbeaten 65 at more than a run a ball, ensuring Sialkot ended the day in far stronger shape than their early position suggested.
Hamza’s 62 not out off 116 balls, featuring eight fours, marked his second straight fifty against Karachi Blues and his third in first-class cricket.
Karachi’s seamers shared the wickets, with Umar taking 2-61 and Saqib 2-66 while Mushtaq claimed one.
Sialkot trail by 105 runs with four wickets in hand heading into day three.

Summarised Score – Day 2
Final – Sialkot v Karachi Blues, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Karachi Blues 340 all out (81.2 overs)
Abdullah Fazal 88, Usman Khan 82, Saad Baig 39, Saqib Khan 33;
Mohammad Ali 4-79, Mohammad Hasnain 2-70, Hasan Ali 2-75
Sialkot 235-6 (61 overs)
Mohsin Riaz 71, Hamza Nazar 62* , Abdullah Shafique 32, Hasan Ali 29*;
Muhammad Umar 2-61, Saqib Khan 2-66