In an intense showdown at the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final held at UBL Sports Complex in Karachi, Ali Raza’s remarkable performance stole the spotlight. Playing only his second first-class match, the right-arm fast bowler delivered an extraordinary 10-wicket haul that helped Sialkot bowl out Peshawar for a modest 159 runs in their second innings on the third day of the match.

By the end of the day, Sialkot needed 114 more runs to secure the title but faced a tough challenge as they had already lost half their batting lineup, sitting at 59-5 after 15 overs.

Earlier in the day, Peshawar started their second innings at 5-0 but struggled against Ali Raza’s lethal bowling. Ali claimed a stunning 7 wickets for just 48 runs in 14 overs, bringing his match tally to 10-110. Sialkot’s captain, Amad Butt, also played a crucial role, adding two more wickets to his four from the first innings.

On Peshawar’s side, opening batter Maaz Sadaqat stood out with a fighting knock of 57 runs off 79 balls, including seven boundaries and a six. Mehran Ibrahim (32) and Zubair Khan (28) chipped in with decent contributions, while Mohammad Amir Khan remained unbeaten on 13.

Chasing a target of 173 runs for victory, Sialkot’s batting lineup faltered under pressure. Peshawar’s fast bowler Niaz Khan delivered an outstanding spell, taking 4 wickets for just 20 runs in eight overs to keep his team in the hunt.

Here’s a quick summary of the game so far:
– Peshawar scored 258 runs in their first innings (Zubair Khan 47, Nabi Gul 44; Amad Butt 4-51, Ali Raza 3-62) and were all out for 159 in their second innings (Maaz Sadaqat 57; Ali Raza 7-48, Amad Butt 2-66).
– Sialkot managed 245 runs in their first innings (Mohsin Riaz 57, Mohammad Huraira 55; Niaz Khan 5-61) and are currently struggling at 59-5 in their second innings (Niaz Khan 4-20).

With Sialkot needing just over a hundred more runs to clinch the title but facing fierce opposition from Peshawar’s bowlers, the stage is set for a thrilling final day. Will Sialkot hold their nerve and cross the finish line, or can Peshawar pull off an incredible comeback? Stay tuned!