by: Atika Mehboob TN Sport Pakistan: Saim Ayub and Shan Masood’s outstanding performances propelled Karachi Whites to a dominant 398/2 on the inaugural day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023-24 final against Faisalabad at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Ending the day, Saim was unbeaten at a stellar 200, while Omair Bin Yousuf was at the other end with 2 runs. Shan delivered a memorable 180 before his dismissal, whereas the opening batsman, Khurram Manzoor, managed only three runs.
In the five-day finale of Pakistan’s top-tier first-class championship, Faisalabad’s captain Faheem Ashraf chose to bowl first after winning the toss. Khurram Manzoor’s early wicket, taken by Khurram Shahzad, seemed to give Faisalabad an initial boost. However, Shan and Saim responded with a dynamic partnership.
Their second-wicket collaboration produced an astounding 367 runs from 403 balls, with the duo launching an offensive against Faisalabad’s bowlers. Shan notched up the 24th first-class century of his career, hitting 13 boundaries and seven sixes in his 182-ball innings before being dismissed by Arshad Iqbal.
Saim’s performance was equally impressive, as he struck 22 boundaries and two sixes in his unbeaten 200 from 244 balls. This marked his second first-class century, with his debut hundred scored earlier in the competition against Multan at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi.
Entering the second day, Faisalabad will be eager to turn the tables. On the first day, only Khurram Shahzad and Arshad Iqbal made breakthroughs for them, while Karachi Whites maintained an impressive run rate of 5.10.
