November 20, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 09, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 19: While the Group ‘A’ leaders Habib Bank Limited (HBL) took a good start against Wapda, the group ‘B’ toppers Islamabad struggled against the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on the opening day of fifth-round matches in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Championship on Monday.

At the Sheikhupura Stadium, leg-spinner Aslam Qureshi bagged four wickets for 28 to help HBL restrict Wapda to 190-8 by the close despite a knock of 74 by Tariq Aziz, lasting 232 minutes and had 10 boundaries.A half-century by Kamran Sajid (57), good backing from opener Agha Sabir (45) and Shoaib Khan (46 not out) helped the PIA finish the day at 214-3 in 71 overs against Islamabad at the Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad. A five-wicket burst by paceman Asad Zarrar (5-67) guided Faisalabad to bowl out Hyderabad in the first innings for 245 in 67.5 overs at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. At stumps, Faisalabad were six without loss.

A fine unbeaten century by Shadab Kabir (126) and good support by Mansoor Khan (69) propelled Karachi Blues towards a healthy 272-4 against Abbottabad at the Abbottabad Stadium.

Meanwhile, at the UBL Sports Complex Ground No.1, Karachi, the Karachi Whites team saw off the day at 178-3 against Multan due to good-cum-cautious batting displays from opener Khalid Latif (70 not out) and Atif Ali Zaidi (73).

The Sui Northern Gas Pipeline (SNGP) are in trouble against Peshawar at the Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar after losing five wickets in the first innings for just 52, while replying to Peshawar’s first innings total of 158. Imran Khan took three wickets for 18 for Peshawar. Earlier, SNGPL’s Tauqeer Hussain took four wickets to restrict Peshawar to a paltry total.

A splendid 81-run knock by opener Shoaib Khan enabled lowly-rated Quetta to reach 200-5 against Zarai Tarqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), one of the strong teams of group ‘B’ at the KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi. Batting at 52, Jalat Khan was the second best scorer.

Lahore Ravi, standing at the fourth position in pool ‘A’, ended the first day at 285-8 in their first innings against Sui Southern Gas Company at the Lahore Country Club, Muridke. Opener Kahsif Siddiq (62), Sohail Ahmed (48), Junaid Zia (46) and Arslan Mir (42) made useful contributions.

Responsible knock of 69 by Adnan Mufti helped Rawalpindi attain 213-6 against Lahore Shalimar at Mirpurkhas Stadium, despite Mohammad Naved’s four-wicket haul.

The pace duo of Imran Malik (4-40) and Ali Bhutta (4-36) helped Sialkot dismiss Customs for 145 in their first innings, despite a lower-order resistance by Yasir Shah who posted 51. By the close of play, Sialkot had reached 69-2.

Summarised scores:

At Diamond Club Ground:

PIA (1st innings) 214-3 in 71 overs (Agha Sabir 45, Shoaib Khan 46 not out) v ISLAMABAD.

At Sheikhupura Stadium:

Wapda (1st innings) 190-8 in 83 overs (Tariq Aziz 74; Aslam Qureshi 4-28) v HBL.

At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad:

HYDERABAD (1st innings) 245 in 67.5 overs (Zahid Khan 45; Asad Zarar 5-67); FAISALABAD (1st innings) 6-0.

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar:

PESHAWAR 158 in 48.4 overs (Nawaz Ahmed 50; Tauqeer Hussain 4-27); SNGPL (1st innings) 52-5 in 20 overs (Imran Khan 3-18).

At Abbottabad Stadium:

KARACHI BLUES (1st innings) 272-4 in 87 overs (Shadab Kabir 126 not out, Mansoor Khan 69) v ABBOTTABAD.

At UBL Sports Complex Ground No.1, Karachi:

KARACHI WHITES (1st innings) 178-3 in 85 overs (Khalid Latif 70, Atif Ali Zaidi 73) v MULTAN.

At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi:

QUETTA (1st innings) 200-5 in 78 overs (Shoaib Khan 81) v ZTBL.

At Lahore Country Club, Muridke:

LAHORE RAVI (1st innings) 285-8 in 75.1 overs (Kashif Siddiq 62, Sohail Ahmed 48, Junaid Zia 46, Arsalan Mir 42; Sohail Khan 3-61) v SSGC.

At Mirpur Stadium, Mirpurkhas:

RAWALPINDI (1st innings) 213-6 in 80.1 overs (Adnan Mufti 69, Awais Zia 49 not out; Mohammad Naved 4-49) v LAHORE SHALIMAR.

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot:

CUSTOMS (1st innings) 145 in 43.1 overs (Yasir Shah 51; Imran Malik 4-40, Ali Bhutta 4-36); SIALKOT (1st innings) 69-2 in 26 overs.