SBP secure slim lead against MIT Solutions

Siraj Uddin, Aamer Jamal take six scalps each as 18 wickets fall on opening day

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday took a slim first innings lead against MIT Solutions on the first day of their President’s Trophy Grade-I match at the Bagh-e-Jinnah Ground Lahore.

Batting first Markhor IT Solutions were bowled out for112 in 29.5 overs, with pacer Siraj Uddin and Shahid Aziz sharing the damage with the ball.

Siraj finished with 6-39 in nine overs, while Shahid claimed 4-39 in 7.5 overs to dismantle Markhor batting line-up.

Aitizaz Habib Khan top-scored for Markhor with 29 off 30 balls, smashing three fours and a six. Salman Khan and Abuzar Tariq contributed 18 runs apiece but the side struggled to build meaningful partnerships as wickets kept falling at regular intervals.

Mohammad Ismail added a quick 13 off seven balls, including a four and a six, but Markhor were unable to stretch their total to a decent level.

In response SBP reached 138-6 at stumps in 36 overs with Rameez Aziz Panjara batting on 14 and with him at the other end was Siraj Uddin on eight.

SBP also had a poor batting performance as they lost wickets in clusters. Sardar Hassan Raza Khan did well with the bat scoring 36 off 63 deliveries, hitting six fours. Ali Shan made 27 from 24 balls, including six boundaries while Faham Ul Haq Khan chipped in with 17.

Discarded Test pacer Aamer Jamal bowled extremely well picking 6-14 in ten overs.