November 28, 2007	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 17, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 27: A match haul of 10 wickets by paceman Asad Ali elevated Sui Northern Gas Pipe Line (SNGPL) to the top in pool ‘B’ after they crushed Islamabad by an innings and 54 runs in the seventh round match of the Quaid-iAzam Trophy Championship, which ended on the penultimate day at the Diamond Club ground on Tuesday.

Having conceded a 222-run lead in the first innings, Islamabad, still placing at third position in the group with 36 points, were bundled out for 168 in the second innings. Asad added another excellent figure of five for 72 to his first spell of five for 52. SNGPL are the pool leaders now with 45 points. But Islamabad, which is the only region out of a total of 11 competing with the departmental sides, has chances to improve its position as it still has to play two of the weaker regions Peshawar and Quetta, along with one match against KRL.

SNGPL’s top position may be short-lived as the previous leaders Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) are also eyeing a win against Quetta at the KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi, in order to grab the first spot on a better run-rate.

PIA, currently having 36 points, after earning a lead of 153 in the first innings, by close of play, had reduced Quetta to 166-6 despite opener Hameedullah’s 56 in the second knock. Quetta are just 13 runs ahead with only four of their wickets intact.

Five-wickets by paceman Wahab Riaz for 93 runs enabled National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), the runners-up in Pool ‘A’, to earn a vital 131-run lead against the leaders Wapda at the NBP Sports Complex, Karachi. Aamir Sajjad’s (88) and Bilal Khilji’s (58) solid batting helped Wapda score 312 which still fell short of NBP’s 443. The bankers by close of play had further consolidated their position, collecting 59 runs without loss in the second innings, bringing their overall lead to 190. The match promises a thrilling end.

Habib Bank Limited (HBL) are also in contention for the top position in pool ‘A’ as they are in sight of a victory against Lahore Ravi at Lahore’s Country Club, Muridke. With 36 points, HBL after taking a first innings lead of 105, consolidated it to 317 by declaring the second innings at 212. At stumps Lahore Ravi were tottering at 58-4, still 259 behind target.

At the Sheikhupura Stadium, Lahore Shalimar are in a position to beat Karachi Blues. Helped by three half-centuries, Lahore Shalimar finished their second innings at 329 and with their slim first innings lead of 22 runs they set a winning target of 352 for Karachi Blues, who by close of play were in trouble with 41-3.

A fine unbeaten century by opener Naeem-ud-din (122) at the Jinnah Stadium, helped Sialkot give a perfect reply to Hyderabad’s first innings total of 415. Kamran Younis (90) and Faisal Khan (64) also made a major contribution to Sialkot’s total 346-3 at close of play. The match is heading towards a draw.

In another high scoring match going for a tame draw, stubborn batting by Zahoor Elahi (132),

Bilal Shifiat (99) and Rawait Khan (62) enabled Customs to seize a mammoth first innings total of 446-6 while replying to Multan’s formidable total of 567 at the Gymkhana ground, Okara.

Fast bowlers Mohammad Talha and Ahmed Hayat shared six wickets between them to help Faisalabad put Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on a follow-on despite some good batting from Ahmed Zeeshan (99), Mohammad Zafar (81) and Saeed Bin Nasir (73). Replying to Faisalabad’s gigantic total of 521, SSGC were all out for 246. They were 52-2 in the second knock.

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar, despite good batting from Mehfooz Sabri (82) and an unbeaten 51 by Nawaz Ahmed, Peshawar are facing defeat at the hands of Khan Research Laboratories (KRL).

Chasing a hefty first innings total of 452, Peshawar were bundled out for 131 after resuming at 94-5 to face a follow-on as Yasir Arafat finished with six for 59. In the second knock Peshawar were 205-5, still 126 runs behind to avoid an innings defeat.

Meanwhile at the Abbottabad Stadium, a fine century by Riaz Kayal (153) gave Abbottabad a creditable 155 lead in the first innings against Zarai Tarqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL).

Summarised scores:

Diamond Club, ground Islamabad

SNGPL win by an innings and 54 runs.

ISLAMABAD (1st innings): 178, 39.4 overs. And 168 (Raja Kashif 53; Asad Ali 5-72, Sami Ullah Niazi 3-35). SNGPL (1st innings) 400, (Khurram Shahzad 145 not out, Yasir Arafat 69, Tauqeer Hussain 58; Fayyaz Ahmed 4-63).

Lahore Country Club, Muridke

HBL (1st innings): 233. And 212 (Riffat Ullah 50, Humanyun Farhat 52; Junaid Zia 5-86). LAHORE RAVI (1st innings) 128. and 58-4.

NBP Sports Complex, Karachi

NBP (1st innings) 443. And 59-0. Wapda (1st innings) 312 (Aamir Sajjad 88, Bilal Khilji 58; Wahab Riaz 5-93, Tahir Mughal 3-71).

Sports Stadium, Sargodha

FAISALABAD (1st innings) 521. SSGC (1st innings) 346 (Ahmed Zeeshan 99, Mohammad Zafar 81, Saeed Bin Nasir 73 Ahmed Hayat 3-124, Mohammad Talha 3-68) And 52-2.

KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi

QUETTA (1st innings) 171, 58.2 overs. And 166-6 (Hameedullah 56). PIA (1st innings) 324 (Agha Sabir 95, Khurram Manzoor 71, Kamran Sajid 44; Anwer Ali 4-73).

Gymkhana ground, Okara

MULTAN (1st innings) 567-5. CUSTOMS (1st innings) 446-6 (Zahoor Elahi 132, Bilal Shifiat 99, Rawait Khan 62, Asif Iqbal 55 not out).

Abbottabad Stadium, Abbottabad

ZTBL (1st innings) 286. Abbottabad (1st innings) 441-9 (, Riaz Kayl 153, Iftikhar Mehmood 43, Rashid Mansoor 41; Rao Iftikhar 3-60, Zohaib Khan 3-101).

Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar

KRL (1st innings) 452-6 declared. Peshawar (1st innings) 131 (Gohar Ali 42; Yasir Arafat 6-59, Faisal Khan Afridi 3-31). And 205-5 (Mehfooz Sabri 82, Nawaz Ahmed 51).

Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot

HYDERABAD (1st innings)415. Sialkot (1st innings)346-3 (Naeem-ud-din 122, Kamran Younis 90, Faisal Khan 64).

Sheikhupura Stadium.

LAHORE SHALIMAR (1st innings) 157. And 329 (Mohammad Shahzad 55, Ali Raza 60, Ahmed Butt 75; Tariq Haroon 3-63, Mansoor Baig 3-27). Karachi Blues (1st innings) 135. And 41-3.