Bilal triggers Northern collapse as Central Punjab win Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Byline: Khalid H. Khan

KARACHI -- Northern were just moments from extending the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final into the fifth day but a startling collapse sparked by spinner Bilal Asif not only sent them reeling to an innings defeat but also handing Central Punjab at the National Stadium here on Monday.

The melodramatic finale was virtually nonexistent all day as the Northern batsmen - led by young opener Haider Ali - put on staunch resistance after resuming at 109-2 while still requiring 312 to avoid an innings defeat. In the end, Central Punjab still ran out comfortable winners of the revamped competition by innings and 16 runs.

But Bilal, who seemed to have lost favour with Pakistan selectors for over a year now, snared seven of the eight wickets to stumble on the fourth day to claim career-best 8-112 - the 34-year-old's previous best figures were 6-36, which came on his Test debut against Australia at Dubai in October 2018 - from 31.3 overs and match bag of 11-149 in 41-3 overs across the two innings.

Bilal, who shared the man-of-the-match award with double centurion Umar Akmal, mopped off the Northern tail in a rush with the last five wickets going down for just five runs in the space of 38 deliveries.

The rot began when Ali Sarfraz chased a wide ball from Bilal and the attempted shot ballooned to substitute Ali Shan at point. And although the diminutive left-hander lived dangerously at times but still played with gusto to push his team past the 400-run mark.

Ali's 81 off 119 balls included 12 boundaries and his demise broke the stand of 66 with all-rounder Hammad Azam, who was ninth man dismissed for an 80-ball 38 (four fours and one six) to the same combination.

In between those wickets, Bilal had Northern captain Nauman Ali caught by Ali Shan - one of the substitutes employed by Central Punjab after several players reported with niggles, including Azhar Ali who was off the field with chest infection.

Waqas Ahmed was smartly stumped by Kamran Akmal who also held the catch of last man Sadaf Hussain before the celebrations started in the Central Punjab camp.

The first session of the day belonged entirely to Haider as the Attock-born batted with tremendous authority belying his tender age to score a career-best 134 and just second of a brief first-class career, after restarting his innings on 50.

Haider, who will be playing in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa next month, negotiated 204 deliveries and sent the ball 22 times to the...