One-day Tournament (Associations): Karachi Blues trounce Lahore Blues by 6 wickets

Karachi Cricket Association Blues trounced Lahore Cricket Association Blues by 6 wickets in the first match of the One-day Tournament (Associations), played at the LCA Ground, Lahore.

Asked to bat first on a grassy track, Lahore Blues got to a fine start, with their openers - Aamer Manzoor and Kamran Akmal - posting 33 on the board in about 7 overs. However, disaster struck when they lost three wickets with the addition of only 5 runs, reducing the home team to 38 for three by the 8th over.

It was then up to a fine effort by Mohammad Ashraf Ali (67 off 110) to hold the innings together. however, there was little support for him at the other end, with the middle order just failing to make any worthwhile contribution.

Losing 7 of their top batsmen for just 108, even 150 looked a remote possibility. However, Ashraf found an able ally in Ahmed Khan. Both batted with responsibility, taking the score to 170, after adding 62 for the 8th wicket.

After the departure of Ashraf at this stage, all the resistance just fizzled out, the remaining batsmen even failing to play out their full quota of overs. they were eventually all out for 198 in the 50th over, with Ahmed Khan remaining not out on 40 (68 balls, 4 fours).

For Karachi, Rajesh Ramesh, Rizwan Qureshi, Mansoor Khan and Rizwan Saeed bowled well, getting 2 wickets each. Harris Ayaz bowled tidily for his ten overs, bagging one wicket for just 27 runs.

Karachi Blues had not a confident start to their innings, losing Tariq Haroon for naught with only 8 on the board. But then a second-wicket partnership of 73 in around 11 overs between Zahid Ghouri (77 off 67 balls, 12 fours) and Atif Ali Zaidi (37 off 37 balls, 6 fours) completely turned the tables.

Thereafter, it was just a matter of time when Karachi overhauled the required target of 199 in the 41st over, with Mansoor Baig and Bilal Murtaza remaining not out on 42 (67 balls) and 16 (40 balls), respectively.

Lahore skipper employed seven bowlers in an attempt to thwart the Karachi's cruise towards victory. However, none of them, except Salman Qadir could impress the batsmen. Salman bagged two wickets for 42 in 10 overs.