Manzoor ton frustrates Mumbai

Opener Khurram Manzoor led Karachi Urban's fightback with a sterling unbeaten 167 as the hosts overcame early crisis to reach 339 for seven wickets against Mumbai on the penultimate day of the Mohammed Nissar Trophy match at the National Stadium in Karachi on Monday.

In reply to Mumbai's mammoth first innings total of 623 for six declared, the hosts resumed their innings on 30 for one and lost three more wickets before reaching 100 and their top half when the score read 163.

Pacer Aavishkar Salvi drew the first blood when he removed Amin-ur-Rehman (9) leg before wicket in the fifth over of the day. All-rounder Abhishek Nayar, who scored a century in Mumbai's first innings, then removed Asif Zakir caught behind for 11.

As if it was not enough, the hosts lost their captain Hasan Raza (12) to a run out while Asim Kamal (25) too returned just when he was looking good.

Manzoor, however, stood tall amid ruins and eventually found an able ally in Saeed Bin Nasir (92) as the duo stitched together a 100-run partnership for the sixth wicket to prop up the innings.

Salvi finally removed Nasir when the batsman was just eight-run shy of a well-deserved ton, trapping him plumb in front.

Manzoor, however, proved a tough nut to crack and the opener was unbeaten on 167, after facing 340 balls and his magnificent knock was studded with 24 fours and two sixes.

For Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai, both Salvi and Nayar scalped two wickets apiece.

The visitors piled up a mammoth 623 for six declared in their first innings courtesy of centuries from Nayar (152), Ajinkya Rahane (143), Prashant Naik (118) and Sahil Kukreja (110).

Brief scores:

Mumbai 1st innings: 623 for 6 declared (A Nayar 152, A Rahane 143, P Naik 118, S Kukreja 110)

Karachi Urban 1st innings: 339 for 7 (K Manzoor 167 not out, Saeed Bin Nasir 92, A Salvi 2-67, A Nayar 2-68).