KARACHI: Paceman Azizullah starred with a career-best haul on Sunday as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) eased past Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) by 37 runs in their fifth-round fixture of the National One-day Cup for Departments.

Quaid-i-Azam Trophy champions Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) grabbed a sensational last-ball victory by three wickets in a battle of wits against Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), while Habib Bank Limited (HBL) bounced back to trounce National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) by eight wickets.

United Bank Limited (UBL), meanwhile, finally woke up from their deep slumber to defeat fellow strugglers Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) by a clinical margin of 132 runs.

Upcoming Azizullah, a 24-year-old right-arm paceman from Peshawar, destroyed KRL with figures of 5-33 in 9.3 overs as SNGPL secured a solid result in their favour at the UBL Sports Complex.

On another splendid pitch and aided by a quick outfield, SNGPL reached only 277-9 after captain Mohammad Hafeez won a good toss when a total of 340 was easily achievable, according to team mentor and former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali.

Hafeez was one of the big disappointments as the Pakistan all-rounder played across the line and found himself trapped in front of the stumps by an excellent delivery from the improving seamer Mohammad Abbas.

With the Pakistan squad for next month’s One-day International series against Australia set to be announced in a few days, Hafeez’s dismissal for six may have reduced his chances somewhat.

The mainstay of the innings was once again Iftikhar Ahmed, who hasn’t been part of Pakistan side since the Oval Test victory. The right-hander missed a second straight close opportunity to reach three figures when Abbas had him leg-before-wicket for 94 — a 119-ball knock featuring 10 boundaries — in the 44th over.

Iftikhar and Imran Khalid provided the best batting of a windy day as they forged a much-needed partnership of 107 in 101 deliveries after SNGPL found themselves in strife at 78-4 in the 21st over.

Imran, the all-rounder, batted with gusto to outscore Iftikhar as the left-hander struck eight fours and two sixes in a 55-ball contribution of 65.

Abbas ended up analysis of 4-31 — the best List A figures of his career thus far — with fellow paceman Ahmed Bashir taking three for 53 with both of them completing their quota of 10 overs. But left-arm speedster Sadaf Hussain was extremely expensive in picking up 1-72 from his 10 overs.

KRL’s reply required someone to plat a long innings but none did as three batsmen — Hasan Raza Jr (40 off 46 balls, five fours), Mohammad Yasin (45 off 65, six fours) and skipper Saeed Anwar Jr (40 off 50, three fours) — fell without making sizeable contributions.

For the second time in three days, Rizwan Haider to the rescue of Wapda as the left-hander sprinted a brace to seal a last-ball triumph against SSGC at the SBP Sports Complex.

Chasing 209, Wapda still needed 11 at the start of the last over of the pulsating game. Zulfiqar Babar scored three off the first two balls from part-time spinner Awais Zia before Rizwan took two off the next and hit a boundary off the fourth.

The fifth was a dot ball but on the final one, Rizwan ran for dear life to finish on 23 not out.

SSGC’s stand-in skipper Fawad Alam grossly miscalculated the bowling options available as his four regular bowlers had all completed their stints before the final over arrived.

Earlier, Fawad was stranded high and dry on an undefeated 96 (off 116 balls, eight fours and two sixes) and Awais hit an 81-ball 66 (seven fours and one six) as SSGC collected 208 all out in 48 overs.

Left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan, watched by national selector Wasim Haider, grabbed three wickets for 29 runs in nine overs, while slow left-armer Zulfiqar Babar picked up his second consecutive four-for as he finished with 4-43 in nine overs.

An opening stand of 146 in 163 balls between the left-handed pairing of Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman spurred HBL to a crushing eight-wicket defeat of NBP at the National Stadium.

Batting first after losing the toss, NBP mustered a below par total of 238 in 48.3 overs. Opener Ahsan Ali slammed 54 from 51 balls with the nine boundaries.

Left-arm paceman Usman Khan Shinwari, a 22-year-old from Khyber Agency whose career has been blighted by injury issues, bagged career-best return of 4-20 in 9.3 overs with Fahim Ashraf chipping in with three for 53 in 10 overs.

Fakhar and Imam then started the chase slowly before accelerating. Fakhar holed out to long-on after strik8ing nine fours and three sixes in his feisty 77-ball stay of 86, while Imam hit just four boundaries in his knock of 74 from 111 deliveries.

It was then left to skipper Ahmed Shehzad and Zohaib Khan to complete the final rites in an unfinished stand of 65. Shehzad spanked 43 from 56 balls with three fours and one six, while Zohaib scored run-a-ball 29.

Shan Masood led from the front at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad where UBL piled up 288-7 after PIA skipper Anwar Ali opted to bowl first at the toss.

The left-handed Shan, currently out of the Test team, hit up 82 off 112 balls with five fours and one six after Mohammad Wajihuddin (66 off 76 balls, six fours and two sixes) justified his promotion by dominating the first-wicket partnership of 106.

PIA’s response to the tall target vanquished at 156 in the 36th over. Slow left-armer Umar Khan was their tormentor with four wickets for 31 runs in nine overs.

Sunday’s results:

Fifth round:

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited beat Khan Research Laboratories by 37 runs.

SUI NORTHERN GAS PIPELINES LIMITED 277-9 in 50 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 94, Imran Khalid 65, Sadaqat Ali 29 not out, Khurram Shehzad 24; Mohammad Abbas 4-31, Ahmed Bashir 3-53); KHAN RESEARCH LABORATORIES 240 in 47.3 overs (Mohammad Yasin 45, Hasan Raza Jr 40, Saeed Anwar Jr 40, Abdul Rehman Muzammil 26, Nauman Ali 20; Azizullah 5-33, Mohammad Imran 2-48).

At National Stadium, Karachi: Habib Bank Limited beat National Bank of Pakistan by eight wickets.

NATIONAL BANK OF PAKISTAN 238 in 48.3 overs (Ahsan Ali 59, Nasir Jamshed 39, Bilal Asif 31, Usman Salahuddin 24, Hamza Paracha 22, Yasir Hussain 20; Usman Khan Shinwari 4-20, Fahim Ashraf 3-52); HABIB BANK LIMITED 239-2 in 44.4 overs (Fakhar Zaman 86, Imam-ul-Haq 74, Ahmed Shehzad 43 not out, Zohaib Khan 29 not out; Kamran Ghulam 2-46).

At SBP Sports Complex, Karachi: Water and Power Development Authority beat Sui Southern Gas Company by three wickets.

SUI SOUTHERN GAS COMPANY 208 in 48 overs (Fawad Alam 96 not out, Awais Zia 66; Zulfiqar Babar 4-43, Junaid Khan 3-29, Waqas Maqsood 2-39); WATER AND POWER DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 209-7 in 50 overs (Mansoor Amjad 46, Ayaz Tasawwar 43, Kamran Akmal 25, Salman Butt 24, Rizwan Haider 23 not out, Nauman Anwar 21; Aamir Yamin 2-39, Zia-ul-Haq 2-42).

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad: United Bank Limited beat Pakistan International Airlines by 132 runs.

UNITED BANK LIMITED 288-7 in 50 overs (Shan Masood 82, Mohammad Wajihuddin 66, Saeed bin Nasir 32, Sohaib Maqsood 28, Adnan Baig 20; Hasan Mahmood 2-48); PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 156 in 35.5 overs (Shoaib Khan 41, Saadullah 26, Shayan Jahangir 23; Umar Khan 4-31, Karamat Ali 2-34).

Published in Dawn December 26th, 2016