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The Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-I cricket championship final between Karachi Whites and Peshawar is poised for a pulsating finish after Yasir Hameed rode his luck to slam a career-best 171 not out at National Stadium here Sunday.

Karachi Whites, chasing their first title since 1992-93, lost opener Shadab Kabir to a skidding delivery from left-arm paceman Waqar Ahmed for 16 after being set a target of 253.

Ghulam Ali (11) and nightwatchman Tanvir Ahmed (5) survived a few scares to see out the third day of the five-day encounter with the Whites at 38 for one.

With 215 runs still needed, the Whites face a tricky preposition, especially in the first session tomorrow. Though, the odds favour Moin Khan's team, it will require sensible approach from an unpredictable batting line-up to achieve glory. But the day entirely belonged to the 24-year-old Yasir Hameed, whose marathon vigil at the crease lasted seven hours and 40 minutes, as Peshawar revived an outside chance of winning their second premier championship in four seasons.

Yasir scored 111 of the 190 runs added by Peshawar Sunday to their overnight tally of 164 for four. He was the chief beneficiary of atrocious fielding display by Karachi Whites with at least five catches being put down.

Thrice he was let off by butter-fingered fielders. Substitute Adnan Malik reprieved the right-hander twice at point when Yasir was on 74 and 109 off pacers Mohammad Hasnain and Tanvir respectively.

In between, Ghulam Ali dropped a sitter at slip off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria as Yasir (101) attempted to cut. But nonetheless, it was a superb exhibition of concentration and application from Yasir.

Several Peshawar batsmen committed harakiri as they betrayed Yasir from the other end. Taimur Khan (34) holed out to deep square-leg in part-timer Ghulam Ali's first over on the stroke lunch after putting on 83 for the fifth wicket.

Zulfiqar Jan took a wild swipe at Kaneria and was comprehensively bowled for 13, having got in his eye in during the 53-run sixth-wicket partnership. In the same over, skipper Arshad Khan was caught in the deep for a duck without getting in line of delivery. Waqar Ahmed then swung across the line altogether and was clean bowled for 12. Next ball, Kabir Khan was given out LBW to a ball that might gone past the leg-stump.

Hasnain was denied a certain hat trick by umpire Iftikhar Malik when Fazle Akbar was trapped right in front of the stumps. In fact, former Test captain Mushtaq Mohammad later remarked that the wrong man was given out.

As it transpired, Fazle hung around for over an hour to help Yasir put on 40 priceless runs which could prove crucial Monday. Peshawar were eventually bowled out for 354 in their second innings exactly 30 minutes after the tea interval was delayed.

Yasir's fifth first-class century contained 21 fours, several of which were beautifully executed in the arc between mid-off and mid-on. In all, he negotiated 329 deliveries.

Earlier, Yasir had reached three-figure in 295 minutes off 215 balls with the aid of 13 boundaries and 150 in three minutes short of seven hours, having faced 311 balls and struck 17 fours.

Kaneria toiled through 38 overs to capture four for 102 while Hasnain chipped in with three for 74.

© Dawn