Azhar sparkles in exciting victory

A superb all-round performance by Azhar Ali helped Lahore Blues pull off an exciting five-run victory against Karachi Blues in the opening match of the National Junior (Under-19) Grade-I One-day Cricket Tournament triangular series at Gaddafi Stadium Thursday.

Karachi Whites made a complete mess of a relatively easy target of 227 after openers Khalid Latif, the skipper, and Mubashir Ahmed had given a flying start in a stand of 138.

The last nine wickets fell while only 83 runs were added to the total with Azhar doing most of the damage by grabbling four for 44.

The visitors needed a six off the final ball of the match but Azhar then had Whites' wicket-keeper Naeem Ahmed brilliantly caught on the fence by Atif Ijaz. Earlier in the same over two batsmen were run out.

Off-spinner Anwar Hafeez provided good support to Azhar. He got rid of both Khalid (57 off 87 balls, one four, three sixes) and Mubashir (56 off 98 balls, six fours) to end up with two for 39.

Khurram Manzoor was the only other Karachi batsman to make any significant contribution. He was stumped after making a 55-ball 38, which was laced with three boundaries.

Earlier, Lahore Blues, who were sent in, recovered from 63 for four to 226 through a boundaryless 84-ball knock of 51 by Azhar Ali.

Tailender Wahab Riaz used the long handle to good measure by smashing a brace of sixes as many fours in scoring a priceless 32 off mere 19 deliveries.

Fata, the third team in the tournament, meet Lahore Blues on Friday at the same venue.