KARACHI: Top-order batsman Abdullah Fazal hit a century on the opening day of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBB) 2nd round President Trophy Grade-1 match against Ghani Glass at the NBB Sports Complex.
Batting first, SBB were all out for 202 in 58 overs.
The left-handed batsman top-scored with 113 off 176 balls with 15 boundaries, while Qasim Akram was the next best with 21 runs.
Afaq Afridi bowled well and took 4 wickets and Ubaid Shah took 3 wickets for Ghani Class side. Test pacer Mir Hamza took 2 wickets and Dayab Tahir took a scalp.
In reply, Mohammad Abbas and Qashib Ali got past Ghani Glass’ top order to reduce them to 31/4 in 20 overs at the end of the first day’s play.
Middle-order batsmen Dayab and Mohammed Ramis remained unbeaten on 19 and one respectively to start Ghani Glass’s reply the following day.
A combined bowling effort put Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in control against defending champions Pakistan Television (PTV) at the UBL Sports Complex.
Batting first, the holders were bundled out for 199 in 57.1 overs, despite a half-century from Mohamed Taha to bring up the line.
Taha scored 63 off 116 balls with 9 fours and a six, followed by all-rounder Arafat Minhas’ 33 off 35 balls.
Muhammad Umar led the bowling charge of OGDCL with four wickets while Muhammad Imran claimed three wickets.
In reply, OGDCL reached 73/1 stumps in 21 overs before the draw, with opener Israrullah and Umar Siddiqui remaining unbeaten on 47 and 4 respectively.
Israr Hussain was PTV’s lone wicket-taker on the opening day, dismissing opener Sameer Saqib, who scored 10 runs.
In another second round match of President Cup Grade-I, Aqib Khan’s five-wicket haul gave Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) a commanding start against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) on the opening day at the SBP Sports Complex.
Batting first, SNGPL’s batting unit managed to score 147 runs before bowling in 60.3 overs.
Middle-order batsman Omair bin Yousuf top-scored with 45 off 130 balls, with Saad Khan chipping in with 21.
Aqib led WAPDA’s bowling charge with five wickets, while Naqeebullah and Mohammad Adil bagged two scalps each.
In turn, WAPDA were 63/1 in 16 overs before the end of the opening day’s play.
Top-order batsmen Imran Dogar and Mohammad Ammar remained unbeaten on 33 and 24 respectively to resume WAPDA’s reply on day two.
Right-arm fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani took the SNGPL team’s only wicket on the opening day.
Arshad Iqbal’s three-wicket haul kept Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in the hunt against Sahir Associates on the opening day of their second round President Trophy Grade-1 match at the National Bank Stadium here.
Batting first, KRL were bowled out for 204 in 54.2 overs.
The wicket-keeper batsman top-scored with a blistering 64 off 83 balls, followed by middle-order batsman Hamza Nasser’s 46 off 54 balls as the rest of the batsmen failed to score significantly.
For Sahir Associates, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Mosin Khan and Bilawal took 2 wickets each while Mohammad Afzal, Khan Saif and Ataullah Khan took one wicket each.
In reply, Arshad dismantled Sahir Associates’ top order by dismissing Faham-ul-Haq, Fahad Usman and skipper Asim Ali Naseer cheaply, while Ahmad Basheer dealt a heavy blow by removing set batsman Mohammad Faiq, who was with their first 24 runs on the opening day.
Middle-order batsmen Mohammad Basid and Ataullah Khan, three and one not out respectively, will resume Sahir Associates’ reply from 46/4, who are still 158 runs behind with six wickets in hand.