The Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-I cricket championship final between
Karachi Whites and Peshawar is poised for a pulsating finish after
Yasir Hameed rode his luck to slam a career-best 171 not out at
National Stadium here Sunday.
Karachi Whites, chasing their first title since 1992-93, lost opener
Shadab Kabir to a skidding delivery from left-arm paceman Waqar Ahmed
for 16 after being set a target of 253.
Ghulam Ali (11) and nightwatchman Tanvir Ahmed (5) survived a few
scares to see out the third day of the five-day encounter with the
Whites at 38 for one.
With 215 runs still needed, the Whites face a tricky preposition,
especially in the first session tomorrow. Though, the odds favour Moin
Khan's team, it will require sensible approach from an unpredictable
batting line-up to achieve glory. But the day entirely belonged to the
24-year-old Yasir Hameed, whose marathon vigil at the crease lasted
seven hours and 40 minutes, as Peshawar revived an outside chance of
winning their second premier championship in four seasons.
Yasir scored 111 of the 190 runs added by Peshawar Sunday to their
overnight tally of 164 for four. He was the chief beneficiary of
atrocious fielding display by Karachi Whites with at least five
catches being put down.
Thrice he was let off by butter-fingered fielders. Substitute Adnan
Malik reprieved the right-hander twice at point when Yasir was on 74
and 109 off pacers Mohammad Hasnain and Tanvir respectively.
In between, Ghulam Ali dropped a sitter at slip off leg-spinner Danish
Kaneria as Yasir (101) attempted to cut. But nonetheless, it was a
superb exhibition of concentration and application from Yasir.
Several Peshawar batsmen committed harakiri as they betrayed Yasir
from the other end. Taimur Khan (34) holed out to deep square-leg in
part-timer Ghulam Ali's first over on the stroke lunch after putting
on 83 for the fifth wicket.
Zulfiqar Jan took a wild swipe at Kaneria and was comprehensively
bowled for 13, having got in his eye in during the 53-run sixth-wicket
partnership. In the same over, skipper Arshad Khan was caught in the
deep for a duck without getting in line of delivery. Waqar Ahmed then
swung across the line altogether and was clean bowled for 12. Next
ball, Kabir Khan was given out LBW to a ball that might gone past the
leg-stump.
Hasnain was denied a certain hat trick by umpire Iftikhar Malik when
Fazle Akbar was trapped right in front of the stumps. In fact, former
Test captain Mushtaq Mohammad later remarked that the wrong man was
given out.
As it transpired, Fazle hung around for over an hour to help Yasir put
on 40 priceless runs which could prove crucial Monday. Peshawar were
eventually bowled out for 354 in their second innings exactly 30
minutes after the tea interval was delayed.
Yasir's fifth first-class century contained 21 fours, several of which
were beautifully executed in the arc between mid-off and mid-on. In
all, he negotiated 329 deliveries.
Earlier, Yasir had reached three-figure in 295 minutes off 215 balls
with the aid of 13 boundaries and 150 in three minutes short of seven
hours, having faced 311 balls and struck 17 fours.
Kaneria toiled through 38 overs to capture four for 102 while Hasnain
chipped in with three for 74.