KARACHI: Centuries from Waqar Ahmed and Sarmad Patti lifted State Bank of Pakistan (SBB) against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in the fourth round of the President Cup Grade-1 at the State Bank Stadium on Friday.
Resuming their innings on the second day at 135-3 off 38 overs, KRL extended their dominance thanks to excellent performances from Waqar and Sarmat.
Waqar top-scored with 138 off 244 balls with 17 fours while Sharmat remained unbeaten on 100 off 257 balls with 10 fours.
Imran Rabiq scored 35 off 82 balls with 5 fours while opener Saad Baig added 29 off 51 balls.
KRL ended the second day with a 259-run lead at 365-8 in 128 overs, with Sarmat and Hamza looking to resume the innings on day three.
SBB led by Niaz Khan took 3 wickets for 77 runs in 32 overs. Shahid and Rameez Aziz took 2 wickets each and Kaship Bhatti took one wicket.
Earlier, batting first, SBB managed to bowl out only 106 runs in 38.2 overs despite a valiant effort by Muhammad Gazi Ghori.
The wicketkeeper-batsman top-scored with 40 runs, while only tailenders Kaship Bhatti (16) and Niaz Khan (11) reached double figures.
Mohammad Hamzah took four wickets for KRL’s bowling, while Ahmed Basheer and Abdul Wahid bagged three wickets each.
Asif Afridi’s 7 wickets followed by Umar Siddiqui’s valiant half-century eased the pressure on Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) against Sahir Associates in the next game of the tournament at the KCCA ground.
Resuming their innings at 245-8, Sahir Associates were eventually bowled out for 248 in 97 overs, thanks to Asif Afridi’s superb bowling.
Faik top-scored with 93 off 188 balls, while Azim scored 59 off 115 balls. Middle-order batsman Mohammad Saleem added 43 runs off 147 balls while Razaullah scored 29 runs off 64 balls.
Afridi led the bowling with figures of 7/73 in 36 overs, with Mohammad Hussaifah, Adil Amin and Jawad Ali claiming a wicket each.
OGDCL ended the second day at 220-6 in 88 overs, still trailing by 28 runs. Danish Aziz remained unbeaten on 43 off 87 balls, while Asif Afridi remained unbeaten on 22 off 73 balls. The innings resumes on the third day.
OGDCL opener Umar Siddiqui top scored with 79 off 180 balls including 7 fours while Israrullah and Haroon Arshad added 30 and 23 runs respectively.
Hafeez Mohammad Suleman and Revayat Khan took 3 wickets each for Sahir Associates.
At the National Bank Stadium, Saifullah Bangash and Shehzad Gul grabbed the limelight on day three as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) took on defending champions Pakistan Television (PTV).
Resuming their innings at 58-3 in 18 overs, SNGPL were eventually bowled out for 238 in 67.3 overs.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Saifullah Bangash top scored with 71 off 104 balls with 8 fours and a six.
Umair Bin Yousuf scored 42 runs off 65 balls including 6 fours while Sajid Khan added 34 runs off 28 balls with 7 fours.
On the PTV side, Ali Usman took 4 wickets for 66 runs in 28 overs. Amad Butt and Israr Hussain took 3 wickets each.
Pakistan Television resumed their second innings and led by 27 runs at 99-5 in 36.5 overs at the end of the third day. Mohammad Taha remained unbeaten on 25 off 101 balls with 3 fours.
Mohammad Suleman scored 25 runs and opener Shamil Hussain added 17 runs.
The SNGPL bowlers made the early runs, with Shehzad Gul and Shahnawaz Dahani demolishing PTV’s top order with two wickets each, Sajid Khan picking up a wicket.
Earlier in the game, Shehzad Gul took four wickets as SNGPL bowled out defending champions PTV for 166 runs in 66.2 overs.
All-rounder Amat Bhatt top-scored for PTV with an unbeaten 46 off 64 balls, followed by Mohammad Taha’s 38 off 129 balls.
Gull finished with figures of 4/40 in 16.2 overs, with Dahani and Khan claiming two wickets each.
At the UBL Sports Complex, Noman Ali’s exceptional seven-wicket spell, coupled with resilient fifties by Khawaja Arham and Kashif Ali, helped Ghani class command the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in a crucial match.
Resuming their innings at 129-4 in 33 overs, WAPDA were bowled out for 223 in 67.1 overs. Ayaz Dasawar top-scored with 78 off 138 balls, including 11 fours and a six, while opener Mohammad Akhlaq scored 38 runs.
For Ghani Glass, Noman Ali was the star with figures of 7/59 in 24 overs. Mohammad Rameez Jr took 2 wickets and Khurram Shahzad took one more wicket.
In reply, Gani Glass scored 166-2 in 53 overs to take an 85-run lead at the end of the second day.
Khawaja Arham scored 68 runs off 117 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes while Kashib Ali added 53 runs off 101 balls before falling to Khalid Usman and Sharoon Siraj respectively. Mohsin Riaz and Dayab Tahir were unbeaten on 22 and 21 respectively.
Earlier, Ghani Glass struggled in their first innings and were bowled out for 142 in 46.4 overs despite a solid unbeaten half-century from Ali Razak.
Ali scored a top score of 64 off 108 balls including 8 fours and 2 sixes, while only Dayab Tahir (33) and Saad Nasim (10) achieved the double.
Naqeebullah led WAPDA’s bowling with 3/46 in 12 overs. Mohammad Zeeshan, Mujtaba Khan and captain Khalid Usman took 2 wickets each and Mohammad Adil took one wicket.
Ghani Glass are now well-placed to push into a strong position on day three, with Noman Ali’s devastating bowling and solid contributions from the middle order giving them a clear advantage.