December 19, 2003	Friday	Shawwal 24, 1424

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KARACHI, Dec 18: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) survived some anxious moments before securing a narrow three-wicket victory over PIA in the Patron’s Trophy Pool ‘A’ clash at UBL Sports Complex on Thursday.

Having already scored 33 on Wednesday evening of the 129 runs needed, KRL lost five more wickets on a tense last morning of the four-day match. Teenager Azhar Ali, in only his second first-class match, hit Saqlain Mushtaq for the all-important winning run 18 minutes after the lunch interval.

It was indeed sweet revenge for KRL since they had lost to PIA in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy final last season.

Saqlain, the Test off-spinner, claimed three of the four wickets to fall in the first session as KRL added 90 runs to be 123 for six at the break.

After lunch, Asif Mujtaba, the PIA skipper, then held a return catch to disposed of Zulfiqar Jan without any addition to the total. But ex-Test batsman Mohammad Ramzan, who looked unperturbed throughout his crucial knock of 26, ensured victory for KRL.

In the next round of matches, starting on Sunday with the Patron’s Cup, KRL face Pakistan Customs at the same venue while PIA travel to Hyderabad for their meeting with the unbeaten Wapda.

Scoreboard

PIA (1st Innings) 127 (Mahmood Hamid 66; Mohammad Asif 4-67).

KRL (1st Innings) 285 (Intikhab Alam 60; Asif Mujtaba 5-34, Saqlain Mushtaq 4-77).

PIA (2nd Innings) 286 (Zahid Fazal 68, Ghulam Ali 56; Saeed Ajmal 4-112).

KRL (2nd Innings, overnight 33-2):

Ali Naqvi lbw b Ali Gohar 2

Saeed Anwar Jr c Asif b Saqlain 15

M. Asif c Ahmed Zeeshan b Aizaz 0

Asif Mahmood lbw b Ali Gohar 41

Intikhab Alam lbw b Saqlain 17

Mohammad Ramzan not out 26

Yasir Arafat c Bazid b Saqlain 6

Zulfiqar Jan c and b Asif 6

Azhar Ali not out 3

EXTRAS (LB-7, NB-6) 13

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 41.4 overs) 129

FALL OF WKTS: 1-2, 2-3, 3-47, 4-64, 5-77, 6-114, 7-123.

BOWLING: Ali Gohar 9-1-29-2 (5nb); Aizaz bin Ilyas 7-1-22-1; Asif Mujtaba 11-4-23-1 (1nb); Saqlain Mushtaq 14.4-3-48-3.