December 14, 2007	Friday	Zilhaj 3, 1428

LAHORE, Dec 13: Pool ‘A’ leaders Habib Bank Limited (HBL) equally shared the honours with runners-up National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) while a seven-wicket burst by paceman Samiullah Niazi gave pool ‘B’ leaders Sui Northern Gas Pipe Lines (SNGPL) an upper hand against Lahore Shalimar on the opening day of the 10th round of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Championship on Thursday.

NBP, who need two more wins from the remaining matches to brighten their chances for a place in the final, were served well by an unbeaten knock of 84 by Qaiser Abbas and 73 by Rashid Riaz to finish the day with 207-6 in 83 overs in the first innings after a shaky start of 98-4 at the NBP Sports Complex, Karachi.

Qaiser and Rashid put on 108 runs in the fifth-wicket stand to snatch the initiative back from the leaders. Leg-spinner Aslam Qureshi, who had earlier triggered the batting collapse, this time, however, could not find an impressive bowling figure. He ended up with 3-70.

But at the Gaddafi Stadium, the SNGPL found themselves in sound position with Sami earning seven wickets for 82 runs to have Lahore Shalimar out for 162 in just 51.5 overs in the first innings despite an undefeated knock of 52 from Mohammad Hussain. With a total of 78-2, the leaders by close of play were well on course to earn the lead.

Six wickets by Junaid Zia and four by Waqas Ahmed helped Lahore Ravi ruin Sialkot’s batting line for a meagre first innings total of 88 at the LCCA ground. Junaid gave away just 30 runs to claim six wickets while Waqas conceded 48 for four wickets with the innings lasting 26 overs.

At stumps, Lahore Ravi had taken a first innings lead of 58, scoring 146-7 with Waqas (41 not out) also excelling with the willow.

The struggle to earn the first innings lead was on at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi, where paceman Sohail Khan tumbled seven wickets for 80 runs to enable Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGS) to bowl out a strong Wapda team for the first innings total of 200 with a half-century from Nawaz Sardar (53). At the end of the day’s play, SSGC were 63-3.

Three half-centuries from Azeem Ghumman (96), Faisal Ather (65) and Rizwan Ahmed (58) put Hyderabad in a commanding position against Multan by collecting a total of 260 for four wickets at the Multan Stadium, Multan.

Fine, unconquered batting by Asif Iqbal (94) and Zahoor Elahi (74) and their fourth-wicket stand of 121 runs propelled Customs to acquire a healthy total of 223-3 against Karachi Whites at the National Stadium, Karachi.

At the Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar, the home team crawled to 134-6 in 73 overs’ play against Rawalpindi with no significant performance noticed from any individual.

Meanwhile placed third in pool ‘B’, a lowly-rated Quetta stood firm against Islamabad, collecting a first innings total of 243-9 thanks to fine batting by Jalat Khan (50) and opener Shoaib Khan (45), despite Rauf Akbar’s spell of five wickets for 65.

Paceman Kashif Dawood of Zarai Tarraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) ripped through Karachi Blues’ batting line up with a figure of five for 37 to bundle them all out for 188 at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi. Ali Asad (65) and Mansoor Khan (58) were the key scorers there. By close of play, ZTBL were 15 without any loss.

Summarised scores:

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

LAHORE SHALIMAR (1st innings) 162, 51.5 overs (Mohammad Hussain 52 not out; Sami Niazi 7-82). SNGPL (1st innings) 78-2.

NBP Sports Complex, Karachi

NBP (1st innings) 207-6 (Rashid Riaz 73, Qaiser Abbas 84 not out; Aslam Qureshi 3-70). Vs Habib Bank Limited.

LCCA ground, Lahore

SIALKOT (1st innings): 88, 26 overs (Junaid Zia 6-30, Waqas Ahmed 4-48). LAHORE RAVI (1st innings) 146-7 (Waqas Ahmed 41 not out; Ali Bhutta 3-28).

Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi

WAPDA (1st innings) 200 (Nawaz Sardar 53, Bilal Khilji 37; Sohail Khan 7-80). SSGC (1st innings) 63-3.

Multan Stadium, Multan

HYDERABAD (1st innings) 260-4 (Azeem Ghumman 96, Faisal Athher 65, Rizwan Ahmed 58) vs MULTAN.

National Stadium, Karachi

CUSTOMS (1st innings) 223-3 (Asif Iqbal 94 not out, Zahoor Elahi 74) vs KARACHI WHITES.

Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar

PESHAWAR (1st innings) 134-6 (Yasir Ali 3-33).

Diamond Club ground, Islamabad

QUETTA (1st innings) 243-9 (Faisal Irfan 50, Shoaib Khan 45; Rauf Akbar 5-65). Vs Islamabad.

UBL Sports Complex, Karachi

KARACHI BLUES (1st innings) 188 (Ali Asad 65, Mansoor Khan 58; Kashif Dawood 5-37, Zohaib Khan 4-58).

ZTBL (1st innings) 15 no loss.