Lahore Blues record a massive win against Pindi

Islamabad, Oct 31: Pace duo of Waqas Ahmed (4 for 58) and Hasnain Kazim (3 for 59) continued their piercing form for Lahore Blues who recorded a massive 122 runs win over Rawalpindi here on the third day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match at KRL stadium on Tuesday.

Set a victory target of 277, Rawalpindi second innings was wrapped up at 155 in 41 overs. But for a 59-runs last wicket partnership in 72 minutes between Nadeem Abbasi (58 off 89) and Mohammad Ghufran not out 7 (36 balls), the victory margin could have been much bigger.

Rawalpindi's chase began in miserable fashion with pacer Hasnain Kazim striking blow after blow sending back top three batsman back in the pavilion at the total of 25.

Rawalpindi tried to break free of the shackles by sending up all rounder Yasir Arafat at number four but that too did not work as pacer Waqas Ahmed had other things in mind. In a space of six runs Rawalpindi was reduced to 70 for 3 to 76 for 7.

Waqas grabbed 4 for 58 to return with match figures of 8 for 102.

Earlier, Lahore Blues resumed at the overnight total of 217 for 5 with centurion Bazid Khan at 104 and Shabbir Khan at 29, but both batsmen fell cheaply with the former sent backwithout any addition to his total.

Blues innings was wrapped up at 288, thanks to a five wicket haul off 54 runs by left-arm Test discarded spinner Shakeel Ahmed. A quickfire 57 off 74 balls by wicket-keeper batsman Humayun Farhat gave more depth to the visitors total which was suddenly looking well in reach when they were reduced to 234 for 8.