President’s Trophy: WAPDA upsurge with PIA drubbing

ZTBL also move up to fifth spot after defeating KRL by three wickets.

KARACHI: Wapda jumped to second place on the points table with a five-wicket victory over PIA as the President’s Trophy eighth round concluded on Wednesday at various grounds across the country.

Needing 197 runs for victory on the final day, Wapda achieved the target for the loss of three more wickets. They resumed play at 10 for two at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

Ali Rafiq and Aamer Sajjad anchored the run-chase with identical knocks of 83.



However, the highlight of the match was an outstanding 15-wicket match haul for the winners by Test spinner Zulfiqar Babar.

ZTBL earn much-needed win

ZTBL claimed their third victory in the tournament after overcoming KRL by three wickets, courtesy an all-round performance by Zohaib Khan.

ZTBL, who were struggling at 112 for five at stumps on the penultimate day while chasing 184 runs, reached the target through a fine effort by Zohaib Khan, who took seven wickets in the match before leading the chase with an unbeaten 54 to steer the team home.

The win that gave ZTBL nine points took them up to fifth position in the points table from the eighth spot.

Meanwhile, wet conditions in Sialkot denied PQA a chance to earn full points after they dominated the first two days against National Bank.

PQA had to be content with just three points for gaining a first innings lead and are behind ZTBL on the points table on sixth spot.

Another match between leaders SNGPL and Habib Bank ended in a draw.

The bankers ended as the beneficiary by gaining three points after they forced SNGPL to follow on in the first innings.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2014.

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