Karachi Region Blues (KR Blues) secured a commanding 218-run win over Sialkot Region in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025/26 final at the Gaddafi Stadium, wrapping up the contest on the fifth and final day. Sialkot were bowled out for 314 in their second innings as Karachi’s bowlers dominated proceedings.
Sialkot came into the final day needing a colossal 520 runs for victory, starting the day at 12 without loss in just four overs. Openers Azan Awais and Mohammad Hurraira survived a challenging late-evening spell from Saqib Khan and Mohammad Umar, keeping their wickets intact to extend the contest into the final day.
Karachi Blues had set the tone by posting 458 all out in 133.4 overs, after resuming at 202-1, exerting relentless pressure on Sialkot throughout the match.
Leg-spinner and captain Usama Mir led the bowling charge, claiming 5-98 in 28.4 overs for his fifth first-class five-wicket haul. Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain bowled a marathon spell to take 3-91 in 34 overs, while off-spinner Hamza Nazar and Hasan Ali chipped in with a wicket each.
Hasnain struck early by dismissing overnight centurion Abdullah Fazal for 114 off 219 balls, ending a 170-run partnership with Shan Masood.
Shan then added 84 runs with Haroon Arshad for the third wicket, bringing up his 13,000th first-class run and recording a fluent 76 off 107 balls, his 59th fifty in the format. Haroon Arshad played a composed innings, scoring 116 off 236 balls before Hamza Nazar broke through in the 92nd over.
Usama Mir sparked a middle-order collapse, removing Saud Shakeel, with Sialkot losing seven wickets for 131 runs. Usman Khan kept the innings alive with an aggressive 47 off 57 balls, including four fours and three sixes, adding a crucial 78-run partnership with Shan Masood. Lower-order contributions from Rameez Aziz (30) helped prolong resistance, but ultimately Karachi’s bowlers wrapped up the innings and the match.