Final hopefuls left sweating by bad weather

SNGPL, NBP, WAPDA in the running for President’s Trophy.


Our Correspondent January 22, 2014
PQA’s Mohammad Sami picked up four wickets for 89 runs to limit UBL to 232 in the first innings. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

KARACHI: With UBL already through to the final of the President’s Trophy, other hopefuls have been left sweating over their chances by bad weather as little play was possible in the matches being played in Punjab.

SNGPL, NBP and Wapda all are in the running to get a shot at the title, along with UBL, but the ‘big three’ were left to rue the bad light conditions.

SNGPL are currently second with 49 points behind league leaders UBL, who are on 54 points. NBP have 44 points to their credit and are looking to score at least six points to give them some chance or possibly register an outright win in their last league match.

Wapda, the other hopeful, are playing against SNGPL in the last match for both teams. They are on 40 points and need an outright win to bag the nine points, which would give them a small chance of making it into final if the other two contenders fail in their bids.

In essence, the possibilities are very close and tight for all three teams.

SNGPL aiming for all-out win

The Wapda-SNGPL tie was marred on day one by bad light in Faisalabad, and both teams were unhappy with the conditions.

“It is a must win match for both sides, but sadly the weather had the last laugh on day one,” a SNGPL official told The Express Tribune.

“We had fears coming into the match that it could be disrupted due to weather, and being defending champions we didn’t want that and wanted to go all-out to win it.”

Meanwhile, Wapda players said that they are aiming to shock SNGPL and hoping that NBP lost their match as well.

NBP could only make 21 for no loss in 10-over play against HBL at the Diamond Ground in Islamabad.

In another match, PQA were on top against UBL after they were 77 for one while replying to UBL’s 232 at the Southend Club in Karachi.

Batting first, UBL were bowled out in 61.5 overs with Mohammad Sami picking up four wickets, while the trio of Azam Khan, Tabish Nawab and Sohail Khan bagged two apiece.

Elsewhere, SBP had made 60 for one against PIA, who were all out for 225, at the National Stadium.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2014.

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