Pakistan U19 captain and opening batter Saad Baig starred for Karachi in the second round of the new season of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, recording his maiden first-class hundred.
Saad Baig out-performs Saim Ayub
Having underwhelmed in Karachi's season-opener, scoring 8 and 26 in a draw, Baig caught up on his run count this week. He scored 154 in Karachi's first innings against Multan, opening alongside Saim Ayub, who was dismissed for 1. Ayub impressed last week with two half-centuries in the opening round. Those scores came off the back of a dismal run of form for India in the Asia Cup.
Following Ayub's wicket, he put on a massive partnership with Omair Yousuf, which stood for 262 runs. Baig reached his maiden first-class hundred in the innings, coming in just his 12th appearance - and for Karachi - after he made his debut last year.
Match 10, Karachi Blues vs Multan
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Baig's most notable achievements to date, however, have come for Pakistan U19s. He captained the U19 side in last year's World Cup, scoring a half-century against Afghanistan. He made his debut for the U19s days after turning 16, playing against Bangladesh in 2022. More recently, he played in the U19 Asia Cup, with a high score of 18 from his two innings.
Having made a century in the first innings against Multan, Baig impressed again in the second. Baig's and Yousuf's hundreds meant that Karachi built a 173-run lead over Multan, and a six-for from Saqib Khan meant they needed exactly a hundred in the fourth innings to win the game.
Having reached 53-1, Saim Ayub was caught behind off Hasan Hafeez, before Yousef and Haroon Arshad fell in quick succession. Amid the stumble, Baig scored an unbeaten half-century to see Karachi over the line.
He finished the match on 65*, giving Karachi a seven-wicket win.
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