KARACHI: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) wrapped up their fourth successive triumph in the Haier President’s Gold League One-day Cup when they overpowered State Bank by six wickets at the RLCA Ground in Gulberg here on Sunday.

The Group-II leaders’ decision to bowl first upon winning the toss paid off brilliantly as left-arm fast bowler Sadaf Hussain grabbed four wickets for 56 runs and slow left-armer Nauman Ali three for six in seven overs as State Bank were bundled out for a paltry 140 in the 38th over.

Captain Saeed Anwar Jr (44) and Ali Khan (30) added 70 in their unfinished partnership to guide KRL home in 41.1 overs.

Discarded Pakistan opener Khurram Manzoor scored his second straight ton in helping Port Qasim Authority (PQA) to 42-run victory over Islamabad Leopards at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad.

The right-hander followed up his 123 against State Bank on Friday by scoring 130 from 124 balls (13 boundaries and two sixes) as PQA recovered from 37-2 to post 330-5. Khurram and Umar Amin put on 157 for the third wicket with the left-handed Umar making an even 80 (off 91 balls, nine fours).

The Leopards, who did well to get 288-8, were undone by the pace of Mohammad Sami, who reminded the national selectors that he is very much capable of regaining his spot in the Pakistan team by taking 4-54 in 10 overs.

Lahore Lions condemned Karachi Zebras to their fourth defeat on the trot when they sealed an emphatic nine-wicket win at the Southend Club Ground.

Skipper Saad Nasim produced a grand all-round how for the Lions. After snaring three for 44 in 9.2 overs with his leg-spinners, the Pakistan T20 player slammed 78 off 81 balls (six fours and two sixes) while sharing an unbroken stand of 137 with Umar Siddique who contributed 84 (103 balls, six fours and one six).

Upcoming leg-spinner Shahzaib Ahmed Khan underlined his potential with career-best analysis of five for 17 in 10 mesmerising overs as Karachi Dolphins kept alive their semi-final aspirations in the Group-I match against Peshawar Panthers at the UBL Sports Complex.

Shahzaib’s brilliant spell saw the Panthers capitulate for a measly 127 after Dolphins captain Rameez Raja chose to bowl first at the toss. Rameez himself was in punishing mood as he unleashed a remarkable 19 boundaries and one six in scoring an unbeaten 98 from 76 balls as the Dolphins sealed their third win in the 22nd over.

Rawalpindi Rams’ opener Naved Malik plundered his highest List A score as the regional side upset Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) by six wickets at the National Stadium.

Naved, a 28-year-old right-hander blasted 20 boundaries and six sixes in his magnificent 179 from 140 balls as the Rams chased 320 in 48.3 overs. Usman Saeed (66 off 89, five fours and one six) played supporting role in the match-turning partnership of 178 after the Rams slipped to 90-3 in the 16th over.

Earlier, former Pakistan batsman Yasir Hameed hit 121 (131 balls, 11 fours and two sixes) and Sohail Tanvir a robust 43 from 26 balls (three sixes and two fours) to help ZTBL reached 319-9 after they put into bat.

Centuries from Sami Aslam (114 off 124, 10 fours and two sixes) and skipper Kamran Akmal, who smashed a career-best 134 off 87 deliveries with the aid of 16 boundaries and four sixes, inspired National Bank to a crucial 70-run victory over Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) at the NBP Sports Complex.

After opting to bat first, National Bank piled up an impressive 356-3 with the bulk of runs coming from Sami and Kamran who forged together a second-wicket partnership of 200.

SNGPL ended up making 286-7 with captain Azhar Ali (57) and Mohammad Rizwan (76 not out) the major scorers. Slow let-armer Mohammad Asghar claimed 3-53 from 10 overs.

With just one round of matches remaining, the semi-finals will be only decided on Tuesday with KRL the only side guaranteed a last-four place.

Results:

Group-I:

At National Stadium, Karachi: Rawalpindi Rams beat ZTBL by six wickets.

ZTBL 319-9 in 50 overs (Yasir Hameed 121, Shahid Yousuf 54, Sohail Tanvir 43; Altas Khan 3-45, Babar Naeem 3-57, Hamza Sultan 2-64); RAWALPINDI RAMS 320-4 in 48.3 overs (Naved Malik 179 not out, Usman Saeed 66; Mohammad Imran Khan 2-62).

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: Karachi Dolphins beat Peshawar Panthers by nine wickets.

PESHAWAR PANTHERS 127 in 34.4 overs (Israrullah 30; Shahzaib Ahmed Khan 5-17, Babar Rehman 2-11, Faraz Ahmed Khan 2-31); KARACHI DOLPHINS 130-1 in 21.2 overs (Rameez Raja 98 not out).

At NBP Sports Complex, Karachi: National Bank beat SNGPL by 70 runs.

NATIONAL BANK 356-3 in 50 overs (Kamran Akmal 134, Sami Aslam 114, Nasir Jamshed 49; Imran Khalid 2-68); SNGPL 286-7 in 50 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 76 not out, Azhar Ali 57, Ali Waqas 39; Mohammad Asghar 3-53).

Group-II:

At RLCA Ground (Gulberg), Karachi: KRL beat State Bank by six wickets.

STATE BANK 140 in 37.4 overs (Rizwan Haider 24; Sadaf Hussain 4-56, Nauman Ali 3-6); KRL 141-4 in 41.1 overs (Saeed Anwar Jr 44 not out, Mohammad Yasin 37, Ali Khan 30 not out; Zafar Gohar 2-21).

At Southend Club Ground, Karachi: Lahore Lions beat Karachi Zebras by nine wickets.

KARACHI ZEBRAS 181 in 49.2 overs (Jaahid Ali 44; Saad Nasim 3-44, Agha Salman 2-19, Raza Ali Dar 2-39); LAHORE LIONS 182-1 in 37.4 overs (Umar Siddique 84 not out, Saad Nasim 78 not out).

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad: Port Qasim Authority beat Islamabad Leopards by 42 runs.

PORT QASIM AUTHORITY 330-5 in 50 overs (Khurram Manzoor 130, Umar Amin 80, Khalid Latif 33 not out; Mudassar Ali 2-60); ISLAMABAD LEOPARDS 288-8 in 50 overs (Faizan Riaz 81, Imad Wasim 73, Mohammad Irfan 71 not out; Mohammad Sami 4-54, Azam Hussain 2-40).

Tuesday’s fixtures: Karachi Dolphins vs National Bank at National Stadium, Karachi; SNGPL vs ZTBL at NBP Sports Complex, Karachi; Rawalpindi Rams vs Peshawar Panthers at RLCA Ground (Gulberg), Karachi; Lahore Lions vs Islamabad Leopards at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi; KRL vs Port Qasim Authority at Southend Club Ground, Karachi; Karachi Zebras vs State Bank at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad .

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2015

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