Quickies bowl leaders SNGPL to big win

Niazi, Asad share 16 wickets as PIA thrashed by 143 runs.

KARACHI:

SNGPL fast-bowlers Samiullah Niazi and Asad Ali captured 16 wickets between them to help their team to a 143-run win over PIA in their President’s Trophy clash at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore yesterday.

The win ensured the league leaders continued their unbeaten run – winning their sixth match of the season – and sit at the top with 54 points from seven matches. Chasing 278, PIA resumed the final day on 68 for four but failed to mount any challenge as they were all out for 135. Niazi claimed a five-wicket haul while Ali picked three in the second-innings.

Meanwhile, Umar Gul’s five-wicket haul ensured HBL remained in the hunt for the final as they defeated UBL by 251 runs. UBL started the day on 114 for three in their quest for the 428-run target but a burst from Gul left them in complete disarray, managing to add only 63 before being dismissed for 177.

Elsewhere, PQA continued their late surge in the tournament by registering their second successive win, defeating KRL by six wickets at their home ground. Set a target of 82, PQA suffered an early hiccup, losing four wickets for just 54. But opener Khurram Manzoor, who scored an important 152 in the first-innings to give his side a crucial lead in the context of the game, made a determined 22 while Mohammad Salam chipped in with an unbeaten 18 to take their side home. Yasir Ali bagged three wickets.

Manzoor was pleased with his performance in the match and felt that his 22-run knock was very important.

“At last I was able to repay the faith PQA have shown in me by helping them to an important win,” Manzoor told The Express Tribune. “I hope to carry this form in the remaining two matches. Initially we wanted to fight for the title but things didn’t go our way and now we need to make sure we avoid the drop which will give us a chance to aim for the title next season.”

In other matches, Sohail Tanvir’s impressive 11-wicket haul in the match gave ZTBL a much-needed four-wicket victory against SBP at the Diamond Ground in Islamabad.  Chasing 200, Haris Sohail top-scored with an unbeaten 68 to help ZTBL achieve the target in 42.2 overs as Kashif Siddique dismissed four batsmen.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2012.