PIA, SNGPL record convincing wins in President’s Trophy

PQA-Wapda, KRL-HBL ties end in draws.

KARACHI: PIA recorded a comprehensive 10-wicket win over PTV in their third-round match of the President’s Trophy first class tournament at the National Ground in Islamabad.

PTV folded for 258 runs in their second innings in a mere 58 overs on the fourth and final day of the match, with spinner Tahir Khan claiming four while Aizaz Cheema and Anwar Ali took two wickets each.

Meanwhile, SBP made a resounding recovery in their match against NBP at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot. Wicket-keeper Gulraiz Sadaf scored 127 runs to guide his team to an honourable draw after the calamitous collapse in the first innings when they were routed for 53 runs. Earlier, NBP had amassed a mammoth total of 435 for five.

Kamran Akmal stars with impressive century

Discarded wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and youngster Sami Aslam scored big hundreds for NBP.



Elsewhere, SNGPL made short work of UBL on the final day of their fixture at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Resuming their second innings at 41 for three, UBL were bundled out for a mere 95 on the fourth day. Bilawal Bhatti claimed a five-wicket haul and proved the wrecker-in-chief.

The match between PQA and Wapda ended in a draw. Wapda withstood another assault from PQA quicks Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Talha on the final day. Chasing 284 runs on the final day, Wapda were placed at 174 for five in their second innings when the match was declared a draw.

Meanwhile, the KRL-HBL match at the KRL stadium in Rawalpindi also ended in a tame draw. KRL were shot out for 159 runs in their second innings with Pakistan international Usman Salahuddin scoring a fighting half-century for the hosts.

Mohammad Aslam claimed six wickets for the bankers, while former Test fast-bowler Irfan Fazil captured two scalps.

HBL were set a target of 231 runs for an outright win, however the match was declared a draw in the final session with the score at 63 for three after 18 overs.

The bankers’ Test discard Imran Farhat, bidding to make a comeback in the national team, failed to make an impression as he was dismissed for an ordinary score in both innings.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2013.

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