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Moin Khan played a captain's knock to lead a Karachi Whites fightback on the opening day of the 44th Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-I cricket championship clash against Karachi Blues at KCCA Stadium Wednesday.

Moin, the former Pakistan skipper, typically led the rescue operation with an unblemished 81 after the Whites lost four wickets for 18 runs once the first wicket partnership between Ghulam Ali and Shahid Afridi realized 42 runs. By stumps, Whites were 208 for six in 87 overs after being asked to bat first.

Pacer Rizwan Saeed started the rot by taking three for 36 in a marathon first spell of 16 overs. Debutant Mohammad Farooq fell to Blues captain Mohammad Javed for two. But then Moin joined Saeed bin Nasir in a 113-run stand in 167 minutes for the fifth wicket that began shortly before lunch. The pair were separated via a run out just after tea when Moin sent back Saeed on his call.

Saeed, who batted superbly, scored a fine 68 in 210 minutes, negotiating 184 deliveries in the process. His knock was embellished with seven hits to the fence.

That was Moin's only mistake during his 181-ball innings. Hampered by a strained back, the 30-year-old right-hander was forced to run, and sometimes walk, a number of singles as the boundaries were hard to come by due to the sluggish nature of the pathetic outfield.

© Dawn