LAHORE: Fast bowler Saqib Khan grabbed his third five-wicket haul of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to bowl Karachi to their 22nd title, sealing a convincing 218-run victory over defending champions Sialkot on the fifth and final day at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

Saqib returned figures of 20.1-1-86-5 as Sialkot were dismissed for 314, after resuming the morning on 12 without loss in pursuit of an improbable 533-run target. He was supported by Rameez Aziz (2-33) and Mushtaq Ahmed (2-82).

For Sialkot, a rearguard stand between Afzaal Manzoor and Hamza Nazar carried the side to a respectable second-innings total and reduced the eventual margin after they had slipped to 144 for five.

Afzaal top-scored with a brisk 63 off 43 balls (13 fours), while Hamza made a patient 56 off 84 balls (nine fours). The pair added 112 for the sixth wicket. From the top-order, Test batter Abdullah Shafique scored 59 off 98 balls (6 fours, 1 six), while opener Mohammad Hurarira contributed 39.

Saqib provided an early breakthrough by removing Azan Awais (12) before dismissing Mohsin Riaz (6) and Abdullah Shafique, and then returning to claim the final two wickets — Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Hasnain — finishing the tournament with 47 wickets, just one behind Multan spinner Ali Usman, the leading wicket-taker with 48.

Karachi — included this year alongside Multan after the PCB modified playing conditions despite failing to progress through the Hanif Mohammad Trophy — lifted the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy for the 22nd time, under various historical names including Karachi A, Karachi Blues, Karachi Whites, and Karachi Urban.

Their previous title came in 2023-24, when they defeated Faisalabad by 456 runs, also at the Gaddafi Stadium.

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

Karachi beat Sialkot by 218 runs, Gaddafi Stadium

KARACHI 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) and 458 all-out (Haroon Arshad 116, Abdullah Fazal 114, Shan Masood 76, Usman Khan 47, Saad Baig 31, Rameez Aziz 30; Usama Mir 5-98, Mohammad Hasnain 3-91)

SIALKOT 266 all-out, 71.5 overs (Mohsin Riaz 71, Hamza Nazar 64, Hasan Ali 41, Abdullah Shafique 32, Mohammad Umar 4-79, Saqib Khan 4-79) and 314 all-out (Afzaal Manzoor 63, Abdullah Shafique 59, Hamza Nazar 56, Mohammad Hurarira 39, Hasan Ali 25, Saqib Khan 5-86, Rameez Aziz 2-33, Mushtaq Ahmed 2-82)

PLAYER OF THE FINAL – Abdullah Fazal (Karachi)

BEST BATTER – Saad Baig (Karachi)

BEST BOWLER – Ali Usman (Multan)

BEST WICKETKEEPER – Saad Baig (Karachi)