Karachi Blues captain Shan Masood etched his name in the record books on Friday, crafting a monumental, unbeaten 250—the highest score of his storied first-class career—to single-handedly put his team in a commanding position against Abbottabad on a day of riveting Quaid-e-Azam Trophy action.
On a day where the race for the final intensified, Masood’s masterclass at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi was the standout individual performance. Resuming his innings at 114 not out, the veteran left-hander unleashed a breathtaking assault, smashing 28 fours and six sixes in his 234-ball vigil. His heroics allowed Karachi Blues to declare at 451 for five, setting a mammoth 519-run target for Abbottabad, who stumbled to 147 for four by stumps, needing a further 372 runs for an improbable victory.
While Masood’s epic innings dominated the narrative of personal milestones, the team battle for a place in the final saw significant movement. The third-placed Peshawar stormed to an 85-run victory over Lahore Whites, fueled by Test off-spinner Sajid Khan’s second ten-wicket haul of the match (10-142). Sialkot, the table-toppers, cemented their position with a crushing 204-run win over Multan, orchestrated by their spin twins Hamza Nazar (5-64) and Mehran Mumtaz (4-70).
In Abbottabad, a thrilling run-chase was set up as Islamabad’s Shamyl Hussain blazed an unbeaten 101 off just 111 balls, guiding his team to 159 for one in pursuit of a daunting 449-run target set by Faisalabad. Faisalabad’s own opening batter, Hasan Raza, had earlier set the platform with a rapid 106 not out.
Elsewhere, FATA wrapped up an innings-and-86-run victory over Bahawalpur to secure their second win of the tournament.
Scores in brief – Round Seventh – Day 3 – Stumps
Faisalabad v Islamabad at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad
Islamabad require another 290 runs to win with nine wickets in hand
Faisalabad: 386 & 221-2 dec (Hasan Raza 106*)
Islamabad: 159 & 159-1 (Shamyl Hussain 101*)
Karachi Blues v Abbottabad at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Abbottabad require another 372 runs to win with six wickets remaining
Karachi Blues: 258 & 451-5 dec (Shan Masood 250*, Rameez Aziz 78)
Abbottabad: 191 & 147-4
Sialkot beat Multan by 204 runs at Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad
Sialkot: 288 & 241
Multan: 139 & 186 (Hamza Nazar 5-64, Mehran Mumtaz 4-70)
Player of the match – Mehran Mumtaz (Sialkot)
FATA beat Bahawalpur by an innings and 86 runs at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar
FATA: 396
Bahawalpur: 146 & 164 (f/o)
Player of the match – Khushdil Shah (FATA)
Peshawar beat Lahore Whites by 85 runs at Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad
Peshawar: 245 & 237 (Israrullah 76)
Lahore Whites: 230 & 167 (Sajid Khan 5-60)
Player of the match – Sajid Khan (Peshawar)
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