LAHORE: A four-wicket haul by Mohammad Ali and half-centuries from Mohsin Riaz and Hamza Nazar kept defending champions Sialkot in contention against former champions Karachi on the second day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Test fast bowler Ali claimed three of the four Karachi wickets to fall on day two as the wild-card entrants added 55 runs to their overnight score of 285 for six to be bowled out for 340. In reply, Mohsin Riaz scored 71, and Hamza Nazar was unbeaten on 62, helping Sialkot recover from 73 for four to reach 235 for six at stumps — still 115 runs behind Karachi on the first innings.

Mohsin and Hamza put on a crucial 95-run fifth-wicket partnership, with Mohsin striking 11 fours and a six in his 85-ball knock. After Mohsin’s dismissal at 168, followed quickly by Afzaal Manzoor’s wicket two runs later, Pakistan all-rounder Hasan Ali joined Hamza. The pair added 65 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket to take Sialkot safely to the close of play.

Hamza’s 116-ball innings includes eight fours, while Hasan Ali contributed a 27-ball 29 not out, featuring two fours and a six.

For Karachi, Mohammad Umar and Saqib Khan took two wickets each, conceding 61 and 66 runs, respectively.

Earlier, Mohammad Ali — who had dismissed Shan Masood on the opening day — finished with impressive figures of 24.2-2-79-4, helping Sialkot restrict Karachi to 340. The last three Karachi wickets, led by Saqib’s brisk 26-ball 33 (three fours and a six), added 51 runs.

Usman Khan, who resumed on 80, managed only two more runs before becoming Ali’s second wicket of the innings. The pacer also accounted for Kashif Bhatti (13) and Saqib Khan, completing a well-deserved four-wicket haul.

Captain Usama Mir picked up the wicket of Mohammad Umar (16) to finish with 2 for 55.

FINAL: Scores in brief (day 2 of 5):

Karachi vs Sialkot, Gaddafi Stadium

KARACHI (overnight 285-6, 71.1 overs) 340 all-out (Abdullah Fazal 83, Usman Khan 82, Saad Baig 39, Saqib Khan 33, Rameez Aziz 22; Mohammad Ali 4-79, Mohammad Hasnain 2-70, Hasan Ali 2-94)

SIALKOT 235-6, 61 overs (Mohsin Riaz 71, Hamza Nazar 62 not out, Abdullah Shafique 32, Hasan Ali 29 not out; Mohammad Umar 2-61, Saqib Khan 2-66)