November 22, 2007	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 11, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 21: On Wednesday, the penultimate day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Championship, convincing wins at different grounds by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Sui Northern Gas Pipe Lines (SNGPL) over Islamabad and Peshawar, respectively, bracketed the three teams equal with 36 points in pool ‘B’.

At the Diamond Club ground, Islamabad, the fiery right-arm fast bowler Aizaz Bin Ilyas returned a fine match-figure of 11 wickets for 72 runs as PIA defeated group leaders Islamabad by an overwhelming margin of an innings and 169 runs.

Though Islamabad, PIA and SNGPL are equal with 36 points, Islamabad’s net run-rate -- 0.027 -- has put them in the third spot. With their victory, PIA has seized the top slot followed by SNGPL.

While replying to a hefty total of 404, Islamabad started their first innings from a precarious situation of 88-6 but they were all out for 126 in 36.5 overs and forced to follow-on. Aizaz claimed seven wickets for 24 in 11.5 overs. Hence Islamabad’s batsmen failed for the second time when they were all booked for a total of 109-9 in 21.5 overs after Rauf Akbar did not come to bat. This time another medium-pacer Anwar Ali stole the show with a haul of five wickets for 25 while Aizaz maintained his excellent performance taking four more for 48 to complete the inspiring figure. It was Islamabad’s second defeat after losing to Zarai Tarqiati Bank Limited by six wickets.

At the Arbab Niaz Stadium, a five-wicket burst by Imran Ali guided SNGPL to also register a big win of 10 wickets against Peshawar. The hosts, who had conceded a 140 runs lead, resumed the second knock from 64-4 but could only add 90 runs before being all out for 154 to set a meagre winning target of 15, which the SNGPL achieved by scoring 17 without loss. Imran Ali gave away 39 runs for five wickets.

At the Sheikhupura Stadium, pool ‘A’ leaders Habib Bank Limited’s (HBL) slot is also vulnerable to Wapda.

Having gained a 56-runs lead in the first innings, Wapda set a hard target of 331 for HBL by collecting a total of 274 in the second innings, thanks to fine batting by Tariq Aziz (68), Sarfraz Ahmed (52) and Farooq Iqbal (51), despite leg-spinner Aslam Qureshi finishing with 10 for 85, claiming five wickets for 57 in the second.

The bankers by close of play were in cold water, losing four wickets for 48. They are still 231 runs away with six of their wickets intact.

Meanwhile Faisalabad at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, are only 117 runs away from their win against Hyderabad with all of their second innings wickets in hand.

Faisalabad, who gained a 25 runs lead in the first innings were helped by fine bowling of pacer Asad Zarar (5-47) and leg-spinner Saadat Munir (4-12) to bundle out Hyderabad for 160 in the second knock to set a winning target of 135. Faisalabad were 18 without loss at close of play.

Summarised scores:

Diamond Club ground, Islamabad

PIA beat Islamabad by an innings and 169 runs.

PIA (1st innings) 404, 111 overs (Shoaib Khan 76, Anwar Ali 74; Shahzad Azam 3-112, Fakhar Hussain 3-34). Islamabad (1st innings) 126, 36.5 overs (Aizaz Bin Ilyas 7-24). And 109, 21.5 overs (Anwar Ali 5-25and Aizaz Bin Ilyas 4-48).

Sheikhupura Stadium

WAPDA (1st innings) 194, 86.1 overs. And 274 (Tariq Aziz 68, Sarfraz Ahmed 52, Farooq Iqbal 51, Nawaz Sardar 42; Aslam Qureshi 5-54, Dilawar Khan 4-125). HBL (1st innings) 138, 43.3 overs. And 48-3.

Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

HYDERABAD (1st innings) 245, 67.5 overs. And 160, 47.5 overs (Faisal Ather 65; Asad 5-47, Saadat Munir 4-12). FAISALABAD (1st innings) 227-8, 83 overs. And 18 for no loss.

Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar

SNGPL beat Peshawar by 10 wickets.

PESHAWAR (1st innings) 158, 48.4 overs. And 154, 40.2 overs (Mohammad Fayyaz 53; Imran Ali 5-78). SNGPL (1st innings) 298, 75.5 overs. And 17 for no loss.

At Abbotabad Stadium

KARACHI BLUES (1st innings) 363, 101 overs. Abbotabad (1st innings) 432 (Riaz Kayal 112, Iftikhar Mehmood 88, Mohammad Kashif 72, Adnan Raees 42; Azam Hussain 4-68).

UBL ground No.1, Karachi.

KARACHI WHITES (1st innings) 391, 154.4 overs. Multan (1st innings) 274-5 (Sohaib Maqsood 85, Naveed Ahmed 49, Ramiz Alam 60; Tanveer Ahmed 3-69).

KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi.

QUETTA (1st innings) 460-9 decld, 150.2 overs. ZTBL (1st innings 265 for no loss. Afaq Raheem 151 not out, Umer Javed 101 not out).

Lahore Country Club, Muridke.

LAHORE RAVI (1st innings) 371, 89.4 overs. SSGC (1st innings) 404-8 (Asif Zakir 168, Shehzad Butt 82, Imran Abbas 49; Hafiz Saad Naseem 3-46).

Mirpur Stadium, Mirpurkhas

RAWALPINDI (1st innings) 284, 111 overs. And 175-8 (Yasim Murtaza 48; Mohammad Saeed 3-42). Lahore Shalimar (1st innings) 147, 61.3 overs (Yasim Murtaza 3-21).

Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot

CUSTOMS (1st innings) 145, 43.1 overs. And 382-7 decld (Husnain Abbad 117, Bilal Shifiat 63, Rehan Rafiq 55, Murtaza Hussain 56; Nayyar Abbas 3-69). SIALKOT (1st innings) 225, 79.3 overs. And 19-1.