Pakistan fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and his Sussex team-mate Mushtaq Ahmed guided Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to an emphatic ten-wicket win inside three days against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in their second-round Patrons Trophy match at the Sheikhupura Stadium on Monday.
After Naved had taken five wickets in PIA's first innings and then hammered a brilliant 124, legspinner Mushtaq just sliced through PIA's second innings, taking eight wickets for 53 runs in 17.2 overs. WAPDA, resuming their overnight score of 238 for 7, extended their first innings lead to 163.Then, they had PIA bowled out for a poor 181 the second time round and, reached their target in a matter of 4.5 overs.
Unbeaten at 62 on the second afternoon, Naved raced to his third first-class century, his 124 coming in less than three and a half hours with 12 fours and five sixes. With Kashif Raza (12), his eighth-wicket stand was worth 72 runs. Mushtaq, fresh from his haul of over a 100 wickets with Sussex, completed his 94th five-wicket haul. He took 10 wickets in the match, for 84 runs. PIA, who have incidentally never won the Patrons Trophy title outright, have virtually been eliminated from for a spot in the Quadrangular Stage from Pool B after two straight defeats.
Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) gained a slim but important ten-run first innings lead over Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) on the penultimate day of their Patrons Trophy match at Rawalpindi.
Just like the previous two days, when the proceedings were interrupted by poor visibility, the last 11.5 overs of the third day's play were also lost to bad light. Resuming their first innings at the overnight 28 for no loss, KRL made 197 in reply to SNGPL's 187. The latter reached 20 for 2 in their second innings before bad light halted play.
Opener Saeed Anwar Jnr made 34 with four boundaries while Jaffer Nazir hammered 43 with three fours and two sixes in the KRL first innings. Umpire Iqbal Butt also gave KRL five penalty runs. Should there be no result on the last day, KRL will collect three points on the basis of the first innings lead.
National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) were pushed to the edge of defeat by Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), on the third day of their four-day Patrons Trophy match at Karachi on Monday. Forced to follow-on, National Bank were 134 for three wickets in their second innings, thanks to a fighting knock of 70 by Salman Butt.
Naeem Anjum, the left-arm spinner, took the key wickets of Butt and captain Naumanullah to put NBP under great pressure. NBP were still 104 behind in order to avoid an innings defeat with seven second innings wickets in hand. Salman's knock contained 11 fours while Naumanullah scored a fine 48 off just 47 balls with nine well-timed boundaries.
Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 83 for 5, National Bank were bowled out for 202 mainly because of a defiant 56 by Fawad Alam in 183 minutes and a marathon 39 in 222 minutes by Qaiser Abbas that came off 141 balls. Mohammad Sami blasted three fours and a six in his 36 at No.10 that saw 62 being added for the ninth wicket with Qaiser. Rao Iftikhar was the pick of the ZTBL bowling attack with four wickets for only 41 runs.
Pervez Aziz compiled a patient unbeaten century to help Attock Group stage a fightback against Pakistan Customs, on the third day of their Patrons Trophy match at Karachi.
Aziz finished the day at 113 as Attock Group made 305 for 9 in reply to the Customs' total of 379. Attock Group were still 74 runs behind with their last pair in. Aziz with Asim Butt had added 61 runs for the tenth wicket. Butt was 17 not out at stumps yesterday. Opener Imran Ali cracked a fine 61 earlier, with six boundaries in 244 minutes. The Customs' pace duo of Uzair-ul-Haq and Rizwan Akbar caused much of the damage by sharing three wickets each.