Dazzling century by Shahid Afridi

A dazzling century by Shahid Afridi laid the foundation of a healthy Karachi Whites score on a fluctuating opening day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-I final against Lahore Blues at the National Stadium in Karachi on Saturday.

Afridi, stroking the ball in his inimitable style, hammered a sparkling 102 off 107 deliveries with 10 fours and one six in just over three hours.

Then a mini middle-order collapse saw Karachi Whites crashing to 190 for six shortly after tea, before an unfinished crucial 96-run stand between Aamir Hanif (43) and Mohammad Masroor (57) lifted the score to 286 by stumps.

It was an excellent comeback by Karachi Whites on a pitch that is somewhat inconsistent in bounce.

Lahore Blues skipper Shahid Anwar, as expected, elected to put in Karachi Whites once he had called correctly at the toss. But the advantage of bowling first was wasted as Wasim Akram and Abdur Razzaq sprayed the new ball all over the place.

Just two wickets fell in the first hour. The left-handed Shadab Kabir was caught behind off Razzaq for a duck in the fourth over.

Then Zeeshan Pervez (19), who was shaping well, hit three crisp boundaries including two off Akram. However, he was undone by a short Akram delivery that rose awkwardly to hit the outside edge of the bat and balooned into the slips.

Afridi, meanwhile, continued to score freely and it was chiefly because of him that Karachi Whites took lunch at 118 for two.

Skipper Asif Mujtaba provided Afridi the kind of support that was needed. The pair together put the highest partnership of the day - 137 for third wicket.

Such was Afridi's dominance that at one stage Akram was forced to bowl with a solitary slip. Displaying a wide repertoire of strokes, Afridi treated the bowling with scant respect. He lofted medium-pacer Waqas Ahmed off the front foot over mid-wicket fence for an effortless six.

Afridi then became one of Abdur Razzaq's three victims in 27 deliveries when a rush of blood brought his downfall. Hasan Raza lasted only four deliveries before he mistimed a pull and edged an easy catch to wicket-keeper Humayun Farhat

Mujtaba, who batted for 186 minutes for a 149-ball 39, was caught by Shahid Anwar at second slip when the ball rebounded off first slip Akram's body.

Moin Khan, the Pakistan captain, had a brief stay in the middle. He made seven before he nibbled at Akram and provided Humayun his fourth victim of the innings.

Aamir Hanif looked shaky at the start of his innings but gradually settled down to make a vital contribution. Masroor, a diminutive right-hander, in contrast struck some delightful pulls and hooks.

It was a brave effort from Masroor for he was hit on the box by a sharp inswinger from Akram. Recovering his composure after a sevenminute hold up in play, Masroor reached a fine 50 off 62 balls with his eighth boundary.