President’s Cup Gold League: Akmal, Aslam tons help NBP beat SNGPL by 70 runs

The home side made 356-3 in high-scoring match.

KARACHI: Centuries from Kamran Akmal and Sami Aslam guided NBP to a comfortable 70-run win over SNGPL in their third match of the President’s Cup Gold League at the NBP Stadium in Karachi yesterday.

Batting first, NBP posted a massive total of 356-3 as Akmal smashed 134 off 87 balls and Aslam made 124 balls off 114 runs.

In reply, SNGPL were kept to 286 in 50 overs with Muhammad Asghar taking 3-53, while Muhammad Rizwan was the top scorer for the losing side with 76 runs off 75 balls.

At the UBL Stadium, Shahzaib Ahmed Khan’s five-wicket haul led Karachi Dolphins to a nine-wicket win over Peshawar Panthers.

Batting first, Panthers were bowled out for just 127 in 34.4 overs as Shahzaib took 5-17 runs with Baber Rehman and Faraz Ahmed claiming two each.

Chasing 128, Dolphins reached the target in 21.2 overs with Rameez Raja Junior scoring 98 off 76 balls.

In another match, a brilliant unbeaten knock of 179 runs off 140 balls by Naveed Malik helped Rawalpindi Rams reach a steep 320-run target with nine balls to spare against ZTBL to win by six wickets.

Batting first, ZTBL posted 319-9 as Yasir Hameed struck 121 off 131 balls, while Atlas Khan, Baber Naeem and Hamza Sultan took two wickets apiece.

At the RLCA ground, a four-wicket haul by Sadaf Hussain and three wickets by Noman Ali helped KRL defeat SBP by six wickets.

Batting first, SBP were bundled out for 140 in 37.4 overs. In reply, KRL took their time and reached the target in 41.1 overs.

In another match, Umar Siddique’s 84 and Saad Nasim’s 78 helped Lahore Lions reach their target of 181 in 37.4 overs and win their match against Karachi Zebras comfortably by nine wickets.

Batting first, Zebras were restricted to 181 in 49.2 overs as Nasim also impressed with the ball, claiming figures of 3-44.

At the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, Khurram Manzoor and Muhammad Sami guided PQA to a 42-run win over Islamabad Leopards.

Batting first, PQA posted 330-5 as Manzoor struck 130 off 124 balls with Umar Amin scoring 80. Chasing 331, Leopards were restricted to 288-8 as Sami took four wickets with Azam Hussain taking two.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th,  2015.

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