LAHORE: Fast bowlers Shahnawaz Dahani and Mohammad Ali claimed four wickets each as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) edged to victory on the third day of the President Cup Grade-1 final at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a target of 245 runs, SNGPL were 181/4 at the end of play on the third day, with six wickets in hand by 64 runs.
Earlier in the day, SNGPL resumed their first innings from 110/9 to WAPDA’s first innings of 265 all out and 117 all out in 45.1 overs, trailing by 148 runs.
Opener Azaan Awais scored 48 off 117 balls with 7 fours, while skipper Mohammad Rizwan (15) was the other player to score double figures to top the SNGPL team.
Naqeebullah led WAPDA’s bowling charge with four wickets in the first innings. He was supported by Mohammad Zeeshan with three wickets and Akib Khan with two wickets.
Despite a 148-run advantage in their favour, WAPDA’s batting unit saw pacemen Dahani and Ali pick up four wickets each to post the side to 96 in 33.5 overs.
Captain Khalid Usman continued to top-scoring with 18 off one ball, followed by opener Mohammad Akhlaq and wicketkeeper Bismilla Khan with 15 each, and Mohammad Zeeshan (11) and Mohammad Ammar (10).
Chasing a target of 245, SNGPL ended the third day in a commanding position thanks to Omair’s half-century, despite a shaky start.
SNGPL lost both their openers Abid Ali (16) and Azan Awais (six) for just 28, but Umair and middle-order batsman Abdul Samad added 56 runs for the third wicket to force a stunning recovery.
Samad scored a blistering 39 off 38 balls before falling to Nakeebullah.
Later, Omair put on another crucial partnership for the SNGPL – 55 runs for the fourth wicket – with captain Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 23 runs off 28 balls, falling to Aqib Khan.
Mubasir joined the top-order batsman in the middle and both batted smartly in the dying minutes of the third day to ensure a strong finish.
Umair top-scored for the SNGPL side with an unbeaten 60 off 101 balls with 7 fours and a six, while Mubasir remained unbeaten on 21 off 14 balls as the stumps drew at the Gaddafi Stadium.
For WAPDA, Naqeebullah and Akib have taken two wickets each in the second innings so far.