Rawalpindi has done exceptionally well in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2010-11, especially considering the fact that they are in Division One with a number of strong teams like WAPDA, HBL, PIA and NBP. Their performances are made even more remarkable
by the fact that most of their senior players are not in action.
In the eighth round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2010-11, Rawalpindi was up against Karachi Blues, who have performed quite poorly this season. As expected, Rawalpindi defeated Karachi Blues by eight wickets.
Babar Naeem won the toss at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for the home team, and put the visitors in to bat first. The decision turned out to be a very good one, as Karachi Blues were reduced to 73 for five, but the visitors lower-middle order were up for
the challenge and took the Karachi Blues to a respectable total of 248 runs on a green track. Middle-order batsman Atif Ali was the top-scorer for the Blues with a well-made 62 off 129 balls. His innings included six boundaries. Four other Karachi batsmen
got starts and reached 30’s but could not carry on.
Seasoned fast bowler Rizwan Akbar was the pick of the bowlers for Rawalpindi with a magnificent five-wicket haul after giving away 78 runs. Rashid Latif and captain, Babar Naeem took two and three wickets respectively. In reply Rawalpindi came up with a
brilliant display of batting because of a consistent middle-order and piled up 343 runs. Muzamil Nizam was unlucky to miss out on a hundred by just four runs, as he remained not-out and his last partner was run out. He struck 17 fours and a six for his 96
off 126 balls. Captain, Babar Naeem scored 77 runs off 99 balls with 10 boundaries. While left-hander http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adnan-Mufti-c42057 also scored a half-century. As a result Rawalpindi took a 95-run lead in the first innings.
Tabish Khan and Rumman Raees took three wickets each for the visitors, while Akbar ur Rehman picked up two wickets. Karachi’s poor batting form continued in the second innings, as they were bundled out for just 195 runs. That set Rawalpindi a target of just
101 runs in the fourth innings of the game.
None of the Karachi Blues batsmen was able to score a half-century, which was quite disappointing, as the track was very easy to bat on in the later stages of the match. Akbar ur Rehman remained the top-scorer for the visitors with 49 runs off 66 balls in
which he struck 10 boundaries. Sadaf Hussain and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rashid-Latif-c84084 picked up a five-wicket haul each for Rawalpindi in their match-winning effort.
Chasing a small target in the last innings, Rawalpindi played aggressively and chased down 101 runs in just 17.5 overs. The run-chase was led by opening batsman, who got off to a blistering start. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Naved-Malik-c78901 scored a quick-fire 57 not out off only 56 balls,
which included 11 fours. Skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tabish-Khan-c92563 and Adeel Malik picked up a wicket each for Karachi Blues in yet another defeat.
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