RAWALPINDI, April 14: Sindh ousted Punjab in a tough encounter to virtually qualify for the next round of the 11th National Baseball Championship at Army Cricket Ground Sunday.

Sindh won 16-14 which would almost surely enable them to take the only qualification berth in the main round, commencing Tuesday.

The first round, which got underway on Saturday, consists of teams from the four provinces. Only one team from this round was to join defending champions Pakistan Army, last time’s runners-up Wapda and Police in the next round.

Sindh are now certain to advance to the next round as they play a weaker side, NWFP, on Monday afternoon (3.30 p.m.) to complete their first round fixtures.

Punjab take on Balochistan in the first match at 9.30 a.m. Monday. Punjab must win this match and also hope that NWFP upset Sindh, in which save the second round qualifiers will be decided on the basis of runs averages.

Punjab are themselves to be blamed for allowing Sindh to comeback in the match after having taken an early lead.

The two teams were tied at 14-14 after the first six innings before Sindh took a two runs lead in the seventh and last innings.

Punjab needed to make three runs to still edge out Sindh but failed to do so.

Aamir Salim, Sindh captain palyed superbly with his excellent catches ably assisted by his pitcher Jawwad.

Top scores for Sindh were Azeemuddin (3) Altaf, Zia, Shiraz, Qanmbar Ali, Jawwad and Aamir Salim. scored two runs each.

For Punjab, Zohaib Malik (3) while Farhan, Shafqat Niazi, Sajid Waheed and Babar Ali scored two runs each.—APP