By Omar Khalid
Karachi, Dec 23 (IANS) Former Indian Cricket League (ICL) rebel Mohammad Sami Wednesday bowled Karachi Blues to an emphatic 141-run triumph over Habib Bank in the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy - Pakistan’s premier first-class event - just hours before boarding a flight for Melbourne to join his teammates for the Boxing Day Test against Australia.

The 28-year-old Sami picked up six for 38, including the prized scalp of former Pakistan captain Younis Khan, to lead Karachi Blues to a memorable title-winning triumph here at the National Stadium.

Needing 208 to win on the third day of the five-day encounter, Habib were bowled out for a paltry 66 with Sami’s new-ball partner Tanvir Ahmed chipping in with an impressive spell of four for 27.

Tanvir finished with nine wickets in the match but it was Sami who stole the limelight by forcing the experienced Habib Bank batting line into submission with lightning pace.

The Karachi-born fast bowler has not played for Pakistan for two years but has been recalled to boost the national team’s pace attack in Australia.

Sami was not supposed to play in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final after being picked for the Test series against Australia but the pacer decided to feature in it in a bid to boost his team’s attack.

The bowler was banned in 2008 after he switched to the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL) but was pardoned last month after he broke ties with the ICL.

Summarised scores: Karachi Blues 215 (Shahzaib 67; Rehman 4-52) and 187 (Asim Kamal 50 not out) beat Habib Bank Limited 195 (Umar 100 not out; Tanvir Ahmed 5-85) and 66 (Sami 6-38, Tanvir Ahmed 4-27) by 141 runs.