December 16, 2007	Sunday	Zilhaj 5, 1428

LAHORE, Dec 15: On the penultimate day of the four-day match at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, Sui Northern Gas Pipe Lines (SNGPL) registered a convincing 10-wicket victory against Lahore Shalimar to become the first ones to qualify for the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy championship final.

It was SNGPL’s seventh win out of the nine matches they played, bringing their total points to 63. They only lost one match to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), who remain the runners-up with 48 points.

SNGPL, who earned a 135-run lead, got a winning target of just 72 with one and a half day’s play remaining by bowling out Lahore Shalimar in the second innings for 206. Suleman Khan was their top scorer with 74 and Asad Ali the main wicket-taker with four for 80. To chase the meagre target, SNGPL sent in Yasir Arafat Junior (47) and Tauqeer Hussain (19), who achieved the target in just 7.1 overs to confirm a place in next month’s final.

An unbeaten century by Khaqan Arsal (109) and Aftab Khan’s 80 helped pool ‘A’ leaders Habib Bank Limited (HBL) to seize a 44-run lead in the first innings of a crucial match of the pool, against runners-up National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), at NBP Sports Complex.Khaqan hit 16 fours in a 221-ball knock as he along with Aftab plundered an innings-building 157 runs in the fourth wicket stand as HBL piled up 341 against NBP’s total of 297 to gain a vital lead.

The match seems to be heading towards a draw as NBP in their second innings were 86-1.

But the three points gained due to their first innings lead will give an upper hand to HBL, who also have 63 points from eight matches, to book a place for themselves in the final. While HBL still has one more match, against Karachi Whites, NBP with 51 points, has two more matches to play -- one against Sui Southern Gas Company and one against Sialkot (the rematch). Even a draw against NBP, with a win against Karachi Whites can lead HBL to the final. Meanwhile NBP are in need to win all of their matches to ensure a place in the final.

In a match, which could tilt either way, Lahore Ravi need 37 more runs while Sialkot are in need of three wickets to win at the LCCA ground.

Recovering from a dismal batting show in the first innings and scoring just 88, Sialkot set a winning target of 214 for Lahore Ravi with one and a half day’s play remaining, thanks to a century from Mohammad Ayub (124). But by the end of the penultimate day, Lahore Ravi had lost seven of their wickets for 177. Waqas Ahmed (14), who took 10 wickets in the match, with Shahbaz Butt (26) are Lahore Ravi’s last hope. The duo put on 48 runs in the eighth-wicket stand. Earlier, Ashraf Ali contributed 64 runs for Lahore Ravi.

Waqas, who finished with 4-48 in the first innings, captured six wickets for 70 in the second as Sialkot were all out for 288.

Despite fiery bowling by paceman Sohail Khan, who took nine wickets for 109, Wapda set a hard-winning target of 328 runs for Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi.

Sohail, who so far is the top wicket taker in the competition, with a tally of 67, gave away 109 runs to earn a dreamlike haul of wickets. But fine batting by Nawaz Sardar (98), Bilal Khilji (80) and Sunny (75) helped Wapda, who had conceded a 26-runs lead in the first innings, earn a total of 353 in the second innings to set a difficult winning target with the entire last day’s play remaining. SSGC start their second innings on Sunday at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi.

A double ton by opener Usman Tariq enabled Multan to earn a 111-run lead in their first innings against Hyderabad at the Multan Stadium.

Replying to Hyderabad’s mammoth total 335, Multan resumed at 229-4 to score 446 all out as Usman scored 218, his second century. Aitmad-ul-Haq (88) was the other key contributor, despite paceman Naeem-ur-Rehman finishing with six for 101. Usman struck 20 boundaries and five sixes to maul Hyderabad’s bowlers.

By close of play, Hyderabad were 98-2 in the second innings as the match heads towards a thrilling finish.

A double-century by opener Afaq Rahim (205) and a century by Wajahatullah Wasti (123) brought Zarai Tarqaiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) to a winning position against Karachi Blues at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi.

Afaq, who resumed from 107, and Wajahat from 11, put on 232 runs in their fourth-wicket stand as ZTBL declared the innings for a formidable first innings total of 515-5 to earn an impressive first innings lead of 327. Afaq cracked 24 boundaries, while Wajahat hit 15 fours and five sixes.

Karachi Blues were 51-3 by the close of play.

Usman Saeed hit 94 to help Rawalpindi earn a first innings lead of 60 runs against Peshawar with 316 runs at the Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar.

At stumps, Peshawar were 45-1 in the second innings.

Ameer Khan (92) and Ashar Zaidi (60) helped Islamabad earn a first innings lead of 38 runs against Quetta at the Diamond Club ground, Islamabad.

Ameer belted 10 boundaries as Islamabad seized a total of 282 runs against Quetta’s 244. Quetta, at close of play, were in a healthy position with 237-4 in the second innings, thanks to an unbeaten knock by opener Shoaib Khan (95).

Four wickets by Sajad Hussain enabled Customs to earn a first innings lead of 58 runs against Karachi Whites at the National Stadium, Karachi, by bundling the hosts out for 280. At the end of day’s play, Customs were 116-4 in the second innings.

Meanwhile a century by Saeed Anwar (107) propelled Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) to reach a second innings total of 356 against Abbottabad after the first innings of both the sides were forfeited due to the first day’s play being washed out at the Abbottabad Stadium.

Summarised scores:

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

SNGPL win by 10 wickets.

LAHORE SHALIMAR (1st innings) 162. And 206 (Suleman Khan 74; Asad Ali 4-80, Sami Niazi 3-54). SNGPL (1st innings) 297. And 73 for no loss (Yasir Arafat Jnr 47).

NBP Sports Complex, Karachi

NBP (1st innings) 297. And 86-1. HBL (1st innings) 341 (Khaqan Arsal 109 not out, Aftab Khan 80; Fawad Alam 4-51).

LCCA ground, Lahore

SIALKOT (1st innings): 88. And 288 (Mohammad Ayub 124; Waqas Ahmed 6-70). LAHORE RAVI (1st innings) 165. And 177-7 (Ashraf Ali 64; Ali Bhutta 4-54).

Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi

WAPDA (1st innings) 200. And 353 (Nawaz Sardar 98, Sunny 75, Bilal Khilji 80, Aamir Sajjad 40; Sohail Khan 9-109). SSGC (1st innings)226.

Multan Stadium, Multan

HYDERABAD (1st innings) 335. And 98-2. MULTAN (1st innings) 446 (Usman Tariq 218, Aitmad-ul-Haq 88; Naeem-ur-Rehman 6-101).

National Stadium, Karachi

CUSTOMS (1st innings) 338 (Asif Iqbal 106, Zahoor Elahi 101, Muhammad Hassan 43; Fahad Khan 4-87, Tabish Nawab 3-88) And 116-4 (Rehan Tariq 60 not out). KARACHI WHITES (1st innings) 280 (Asim Kamal 50, Tanvir Ahmed 50, Khalid Latif 42; Sajjad Hussain 4-50, Raees Amjad 3-51).

Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar

PESHAWAR (1st innings) 256. And 45-1. RAWALPINDI (1ST innings) 316 (Usman Saeed 94, Yasim Murtaza 46; Nauman Habib 4-79, Rahat Ullah 4-57).

Diamond Club ground, Islamabad

QUETTA (1st innings) 244. and 237-4 (Shoaib Khan 95 not out, Jalat Khan 46 not out; Saad Altaf 3-69). ISLAMABAD (1st innings): 282 (Ameer Khan 92, Imad Wasim 41, Ashar Zaidi 60; Faisal Irfan 4-35).

UBL Sports Complex, Karachi

KARACHI BLUES (1st innings) 188. And 51-2. ZTBL (1st innings) 515-5 decld (Afaq Rahim 205 not out, Wajahatullah Wasti 123, Adnan Raza 62, Inam-ul-Haq 45, Imran 42).

Abbottabad Stadium

After first innings forfeited due to wash out on first day.

KRL (2nd innings) 356-7 (Saeed Anwar 107, Bazid Khan 78; Amjad Waqas 4-132). Vs ABBOTTABAD.