Tanvir’s spirited bowling fails to lift PQA

Wapda crush UBL by an innings and 109 runs.

KARACHI: An impressive haul of 12 wickets by discarded Tanvir Ahmed proved futile as PQA lost to NBP by two wickets on the third day of the fifth round of President’s Trophy at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Tanvir claimed seven wickets in the first innings and grabbed another five wickets in the second innings, intimidating the NBP who needed 131 runs with eight wickets in hand.

However, Qaiser Abbas’ unbeaten 52-run knock and an equally inspiring 54 from Umair Khan took the bankers home with a two-wicket win.

Meanwhile, Wapda maintained their brilliant form by clinching a massive win over UBL by an innings and 109 runs. Needing 119 runs to avoid an innings defeat at 81 for eight, UBL could only add ten runs as they were bundled out for just 91 in the second innings at Sports Stadium, Sargodha.

In another match, Pakistan Test batsman Azher Ali shone with an unbeaten 129 as SNGPL eye a big win over ZTBL who were reeling at 120 for six at stumps after being handed a target of 408 at the Pindi Stadium. Samiullah Niazi and Imran Ali took two wickets each for SNGPL after they declared their second innings on 256 for two.

Elsewhere, PIA are flying steadily towards triumph after Najaf Shah’s five wickets for 38 runs reduced Habib Bank to just 147 in the second innings at Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot. Chasing a target of 176, PIA were on 87 for three at stumps on day three with Shoaib Malik batting on 46.

At the Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad, KRL were on 183 for five in the second innings after State Bank were bowled out for 188 in the first innings.  Saeed Anwar Jr. and Zain Abbas were responsible for most of the runs, as the former made a half century and the latter struck a useful 76.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2012.