KARACHI: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) defeated hosts State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) by 10 wickets in a low-scoring match to conclude the fourth round of the President Cup Grade-I 2025-26 at the State Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Resuming at 289-9, SBB were bowled out for 302 in 79.2 overs and could only add 13 more runs. This set a modest target of 40 runs for the KRL team.
Shahid Aziz was instrumental for SBB with a 68-ball 54 including 4 fours and 3 sixes.
SBP’s second innings started 262 runs behind and half-centuries from Mohammad Hurairah (54 off 69 balls) and Qasim Akram (62 off 78 balls) initially seemed to steady the ship.
Captain Hasan Raza also added a crucial 49 runs. However, KRL’s Waqar Ahmed took five wickets to send SBP reeling and on the brink of defeat.
KRL reached the target without losing a wicket in the 9th over. Wicketkeeper-batsman Saad Baig remained unbeaten on 18 off 33 balls while Shahzaib Khan scored 25 off 19 balls with 3 fours and a six.
Earlier, KRL resumed their first innings at 365/8 and were bowled out for 368 in 130.3 overs.
Waqar Ahmed scored 138 runs off 244 balls with 17 fours and Sarmat Bhatti scored 101 runs off 267 balls with 10 fours. Imran Rabiq and Saad Baig contributed 35 and 29 runs respectively.
SBP’s Niaz Khan picked the bowlers with figures of 4/78 in 33.3 overs, supported by Shahid (3 wickets) and Rameez Aziz (2 wickets).
KRL’s Mohammad Hamza took three wickets, while Akib Liaqat took two wickets to complete Ahmed’s five-wicket haul.
At the KCCA Stadium, Sahir Associates won by 64 runs against Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) thanks to a brilliant performance by Khan Jaib and Razaullah.
Chasing 156 for victory, OGDCL were bowled out for 91 in 29 overs as Khan Saif and Razaullah took five wickets each to disrupt the batting line-up.
Only Mohammad Sarwar Afridi scored an unbeaten 41 off 53 balls including 6 fours.
Earlier, Sahir Associates continued their second innings at 147-8, all out for 164 in 75.4 overs, setting a modest target of 156 for OGDCL.
Middle-order batsman Mohammad Faiq top-scored with a patient 48 off 118 balls and Ahmar Ashbak with 43 off 70 balls.
Asif Afridi and Jawad Ali took three wickets each, while Danish Aziz (2), and Mohammad Husayfa and skipper Adil Amin took one wicket each for the OGDCL’s bowling.
In the first innings, OGDCL resumed at 220-6 in reply to Sahir Associates’ 248 all out.
Mohamed Faik continued to top his team with 93 off 188 balls including 7 fours while captain Asim Ali Naseer scored 59 off 115 balls with 5 fours.
Eventually all out for 257 in 106.2 overs, a slender 9-run lead.
Opener Umar Siddiqui top scored with 79 off 180 balls, Danish Aziz 69 off 133 balls, Israrullah and Asif Afridi added 30 runs each.
Revayat Khan was the standout bowler for Sahir Associates, taking 5 for 59 in 26 overs, while Hafeez Mohammad Suleman claimed four.
In another match at the UBL Sports Complex, the fourth round match of the President Trophy Grade-I saw Noman Ali’s sensational bowling sweep Ghani Glass to a 106-run win over Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).
Resuming their second innings at 108-5 in 36 overs, WAPDA were bowled out for 136 in 45.3 overs.
Noman Ali was the star with the ball with 5/45 in 17.3 overs, while Khurram Shahzad claimed 4 wickets and Sameen Gul took one.
Malhar Rasool top-scored for WAPDA with 47 runs off 107 balls, Ayaz Dasawar’s 20 runs off 44 balls and Mohammad Zeeshan’s last-innings 19 runs off 23 balls, which included four fours.
Ghani Glass resumed his second innings at 166/2, leading by 85 runs. They scored 323 all out, largely due to a strong top-order performance.
Mohsin Riaz continued the innings with 92 off 167 balls, while openers Khawaja Arham and Kashib Ali scored 68 and 53 respectively.
Captain Khalid Usman bowled well for WAPDA and took 4 wickets, Naqeebullah took 3 wickets and Mohammad Zeeshan took 2 wickets.
In the first innings, Ghani Glass was bowled out for 142 in 46.2 overs, with Ali Razak scoring 64 off 108 balls, including 9 fours and 2 sixes.
WAPDA bowled Naqeebullah with three wickets, Mohammad Zeeshan, Khalid Usman and Mujtaba Khan each with two wickets and Mohammad Adil with one.
WAPDA scored 223 runs in 67.1 overs and took a first innings lead of 81 runs. Ayaz Dasawar scored 78 runs off 138 balls with 11 fours and a six.
Noman Ali again played for the Ghani class and took 7/59 from 24 overs, while Mohammad Rameez Jr claimed two wickets and Khurram Shahjad took one.
Yesterday, Pakistan Television (PTV) created history by successfully defending the smallest wicket in first-class cricket, breaking a 232-year-old record.
Defending champions Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) had set a meager target of 40 runs, but their bowling department forced a spectacular finish as they reduced the opposition to just 37 runs to seal a thrilling two-run win.
A target of 40 runs is currently the smallest successfully defended in the history of first-class cricket. The record was previously held by an English domestic club, Outfield, who defended 43 against Marylebone Cricket Club in 1794.
Left-arm spinner Ali Usman was the standout bowler for the holders in a thrilling second innings, taking 6 wickets to finish with 10 wickets. He was amply supported by all-rounder Amat Bhatt who claimed four scalps.
Wicket keeper batsman Saifullah Bangash had a solo performance for SNGPL with 14 off 35 balls, while the rest of his teammates failed to score double figures.
A pulsating third day of the fourth round President Cup Grade-I match saw PTV resume their second innings from 99/5 with a slender 27-run lead in their favour.
PTV were booked for a modest 111 in 42.5 overs and could add 12 more runs to their overnight score as Shehzad Gul and Sajid Khan combined with their batting tail.
Mohammad Taha continued to top the order with 27 off 123 balls, followed by Mohammad Suleman’s 25.
Shezad was a brilliant bowler in the second innings of the SNGPL, picking up five wickets. He was supported by Sajid, who took three scalps, while Shahnawaz Dahani took two scalps.