Karachi Blues make steady progress

Karachi, Jan 2: Two invaluable partnerships guided Karachi Blues to 242 for five in their first innings on the opening day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Grade-I Cricket Championship against Islamabad here on Tuesday.

Karachi Blues, who are battling for survival in top league, were dug out of another perilous spot by a third wicket stand of 106 in 125 minutes between opener Maisam Hasnain (67) and Faisal Iqbal (60) after Islamabad skipper Bilal Asad had won the toss and elected to field first at the KCCA Stadium.

Later Asim Kamal (49) and all-rounder Mohammad Javed (29) further consolidated the position in another crucial partnership which is so far worth 73 for the sixth wicket.

Left-arm paceman Stephen John, taking advantage of the early moisture in the brown-looking strip, bowled an impressive opening spell to remove Suleman Huda and Nomanullah after play began 30 minutes late because of a wet pitch.

It was agreed that the lost time will be covered by extending play for further 10 minutes in the subsequent days of the match.

Suleman was bowled for two in the third over of the morning while Nomanullah perished for 15, hooking John down Naveed Ahmed's throat on the fine-leg boundary to make Karachi Blues 63 for two at lunch.

The afternoon session, which produced 103 runs, was dominated by Maisam Hasnain and Faisal Iqbal. Maisam played second fiddle to Faisal, who is one of the most promising young batsmen in the country.

Playing virtually in 'V' arc, Faisal stroked seven fours in his 112-ball knock until he misjudged a full length ball from off-spinner Hakim Butt and was stumped by Mohammad Shahbaz for 60. Maisam was caught behind for 67 after batting for 220 minutes. His 159-ball innings was punctuated with seven hits to the fence.

Skipper Farhan Adil (8) provided debutant leg-spinner Anwar-ul-Haq with his second wicket in succession. However, the left-handed Asim Kamal and Javed held firm to deny Islamabad any more success in the remaining 94 minutes of the day. Asim, who hit two boundaries, has so far occupied the crease for 130 minutes and faced 104 deliveries.