KARACHI: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) suffered a 53-run defeat against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) on the final day of their sixth round President Cup Grade-1 match at the KCCA Stadium on Friday.
The win was SNGPL’s fourth in six matches and lifted them to share the top spot with Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in the first-class competition table with both sides amassing 114 points.
With just one round remaining in the eight-team tournament, which begins at four venues here on February 2, SNGPL and WAPDA are in a strong position to qualify for the finals as second-placed KRL is on 97 points.
SNGPL will take on seventh-placed Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), while WAPDA will face State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), which moved up to fourth place with a resounding win over OGDCL in the recently concluded round.
However, second-placed KRL, who will face sixth-placed Ghani Glass in the final round, could spoil SNGPL and WAPDA’s plans by winning the match by a considerable margin.
Despite captain Iftikhar Ahmed’s gallant half-century, SNGPL bowled out KRL for 180 in 71.1 overs on the final day of their final-round President’s Trophy Grade-I match while chasing a 234-run target.
Iftikhar top scored for KRL with 63 off 176 balls in the second innings. He also shared a crucial partnership with No.8 batsman Hamza Nasser who made a significant contribution with 32 off 76 balls.
Leading the bowling charge for SNGPL in the second innings was Test pacer Mohammad Ali, who took four wickets for just 42 runs in his 20.1 overs. He was supported by Mohammad Irfan with three runs, while Sajid Khan took two wickets.