December 28, 2007	Friday	Zilhaj 17, 1428

LAHORE, Dec 27: A 10-wicket match haul by paceman Wahab Riaz helped the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) beat Sialkot by 107 runs in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Championship match at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Wahab followed his five-wicket bag in the first innings, repeated the dose as Sialkot were bowled out for 259 in their second innings.

The win kept NBP’s slim chances of qualifying for the final. However, if Habib Bank gain full points in their current match against Karachi Whites then NBP’s last game against Sui Southern Gas Company would become meaningless.

Habib Bank were in command after the second day’s play at the UBL Sports Complex as Karachi Whites stumbled to 164-9 in reply to the bankers’ 404.

Lahore Shalimar, once a force to be reckoned in the domestic cricket, suffered a humiliating innings and 79 runs defeat at the hands of Abbottabad at the LCCA Ground.

The win also helped Abbottabad from being relegated.

Lahore Shalimar, who had restricted Abbottabad to 236 in the first innings, were bundled out for 48 after resuming the day at 19-6. Paceman Armaghan Elahi, who finished with a match-haul of 10 wickets, claimed six wickets in the first innings for just 16 runs. In second innings, Lahore Shalimar were shot out for 109 with Armaghan taking four for 58 and fellow paceman Rashid Mansoor five for 19.

Propelled by two centuries, Pool ‘B’ leaders Sui Northern Gas Pipe Lines (SNGPL), who had already entered the final, gained good practice before the final, collecting a first innings total of 451-3 against Quetta, who are likely to be relegated from the championship for next year, by close of play at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Test opener Mohammad Hafeez (163 with 23 fours) and Umar Akmal (186 with 20 fours and nine sixes) enabled their side to gain a lead of 256 runs in the first innings.

At the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, the home team were well placed after piling up 449, thanks to Ijaz Ahmed Junior’s 174. Lahore Ravi, in reply, were 155-3 by close of play.

Fine centuries from Asadullah (137 with 16 fours and two sixes) and Fayyaz Ahmed (118 with 21 fours) helped Islamabad take a lead of 204 against Peshawar.

Faisal Athar (114) and Aqeel Anjum (73) guided Hyderabad to 207-1 against Pakistan Customs at Niaz Stadium after the first day was washed out.

Summarised scores (second day):

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi:

HABIB BANK 404 (Shahid Afridi 70, Hasan Raza 65, Abdul Rehman 47, Aftab Khan 63, Aslam Qureshi 60 not out; Fahad Khan 4-74); KARACHI WHITES 164-9 (Afsar Nawaz 66, Faraz Ahmed 44; Fahad Masood 5-42, Kamran Hussain 4-31).

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore:

QUETTA 195; SNGPL 451-3 (Mohammad Hafeez 163, Umar Akmal 186).

At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad:

FAISALABAD 449 (Ijaz Ahmed 174, Ammar Mahmood 76, Asad Zarar 80; Imran Haider 6-132); LAHORE RAVI 155-3.

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: Abbottabad beat Lahore Shalimar by an innings and 79 runs.

ABBOTTABAD 236; LAHORE SHALIMAR 48 (Armaghan Elahi 6-16) and 109 (Rashid Mansoor 5-19, Armaghan Elahi 4-58).

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad:

HYDERABAD 207-1 (Faisal Athar 114 not out, Aqeel Anjum 73) v PAKISTAN CUSTOMS.

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad:

PESHAWAR 202; ISLAMABAD 406-9 (Asadullah Sumeri 137, Fayaz Ahmed 118, Naeem Anjum 70).

At National Stadium, Karachi:

KARACHI BLUES 270 (Shaharyar Ghani 122, Tabish Khan 52; Anwar Ali 4-70); PIA 201-7 (Sarfraz Ahmed 76).

At Multan Cricket Stadium (final day of four): National Bank beat Sialkot by 107 runs.

NATIONAL BANK 344 and 225-5 declared; SIALKOT 203 and 259 (Haris Sohail 58; Wahab Riaz 5-85).

Matches put off

THE final round matches of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy have, for the time being, been put off due to the assination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on Thursday.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director Cricket Operations (DCO) Zakir Khan told Dawn that, “there will be no play in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy from Friday, due to the awful incident in Rawalpindi … changes in the programme will be announced later.”