KARACHI: A magnificent display of batting from Aftab Khan and Rameez Aziz helped Habib Bank Limited (HBL) qualify for the semi-finals of the National One-day Cup for Departments with a five-wicket in over Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) here on Tuesday.

The sixth-round of matches also not only ensured Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) a last-four place but also catapulted them into top spot in the standings with 65-run defeat of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).

Meanwhile, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) lost their No 1 position when United Bank Limited stunned them by 23 runs, while Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), who along with SNGPL had already booked semi-final places on Sunday, also suffered a shock five-wicket loss against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

In excellent conditions at the National Stadium, KRL found it extremely tough to defend a total of 282-9 after HBL skipper Ahmed Shehzad opted to field first at the toss.

Despite losing Fakhar Zaman (6), Imam-ul-Haq (22) and Shehzad (24) with only 63 runs on the board in the 14th over of the chase, HBL showed great resilience as Aftab and Rameez shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 187 in 173 deliveries to take the game away from KRL.

Fakhar got a good ball from Mohammad Abbas and was caught behind by Junaid Ali in the third over; Imam was declared leg-before-wicket in a top-class decision by umpire Khalid Mahmood when fell over while trying to play Sadaf Hussain across the line.

HBL then suffered a big setback when the in-form Shehzad was taken in the cover by Abdul Rehman Muzammil off a leading edge when the Pakistan discard tried to turn Ahmed Bashir through the on-side field.

But the next 119 minutes, the Aftab and Rameez played a series of awesome strokes on both sides of the fast outfield to ease tension in their camp.

Aftab, the 32-year-old right-hander, anchored the innings beautifully to complete a second List A century before surpassing his previous highest score of 122 to finish undefeated with 125.

The left-handed Rameez, the 26-year-old who had previously represented Pakistan at the Under-19 level, missed out on a third one-day hundred by just nine runs when he attempted an expansive stroke against Sadaf Hussain and was caught behind by Junaid Ali.

Rameez, who has been in fine form this season, scored his runs from only 97 balls with the aid 10 boundaries. Aftab, who was let off by Junaid off Mohammad Abbas, laced his 104-ball knock with 17 fours.

Azeem Ghumman was unnecessarily run out for 10 with the scores levelled before Aftab ran a single at the start of the penultimate over of the game to trigger jubilant scenes in the dressing-room at HBL’s fourth win in the championship.

Earlier, the KRL innings revolved around young Junaid Ali’s brilliant 143 — a career-best effort from the left-handed wicket-keeper/batsman who surpassed his previous highest score of 86 — before losing their way in the final 10 Powerplay overs by mustering just 61 runs.

The only notable stand was provided by Junaid, who struck 21 boundaries during his 127-ball stay, and fellow left-hander Mohammad Yasin (32) who put on 119 from 148 balls.

Pace-bowling all-rounder Fahim Ashraf was the pick of the HBL bowlers with figures of 3-42 in his 10 overs. Ammad Butt also took three wickets but conceded 71 runs in 10 overs while left-arm speedster Usman Khan Shinwari claimed 2-51 in eight overs.

After this success HBL retained their fourth position in the standings with a net run-rate of -0.051 levelling with SSGC (0.790), SNGPL (0.339) and Wapda (0.276) who all have now collected eight points apiece.

SNGPL, who headed the standings before the start of the sixth round, folded up for 242 inside 49 overs while chasing 266 against UBL at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad.

Openers Imran Butt (97 off 113 balls, eight fours and one six) and Salman Afridi (48 off 65, five fours and one six) added 90 in 19 overs before getting out. The loss of captain Mohammad Hafeez (4) through a run out — one of three of the innings — upset SNGPL’s plans despite Khurram Shehzad (39) and Hussain Talat (20) putting on 72 for the fourth wicket.

Left-arm seamer Rumman Raees Khan grabbed 3-39 in nine overs.

Skipper Shan Masood once led from the front with his second century of the competition as the out-of-favour left-handed Test opener compiled a career-high 108 from 130 balls (eight boundaries) before being run out as UBL, sent into bat, reached 265 all out in 50 overs.

Akbar-ur-Rehman scored 66 (70 balls, nine fours and one six) while sharing a second-wicket partnership of 110 with Shan.

Azizullah followed up his career-best five-for against KRL on Sunday by picking up 4-65 in 10 overs with Hafeez taking 2-49 in 10 overs and slow left-armer Sadaqat Ali two for 51, also in 10 overs.

Zain Abbas (63 off 108 balls, seven fours), Saifullah Khan Bangash (56 not out from 48, two fours and one six) and Fawad Alam (47 off 58) guided SSGC to 246-9 after the returning skipper Shoaib Malik won the toss at the UBL Sports Complex. The captain, however made only nine from 20 balls.

NBP made decent start with Hamza Paracha (40) and Ahsan Ali (29) put on 65 for the first wicket. But in the end, the bankers managed only 181 all out in 43.3 overs with Malik capturing 3-50 (nine overs) and slow left-armer Mohammad Irfan 3-29 (10 overs).

On a sluggish outfield at the SBP Sports Complex, Wapda were restricted to 219-7 after PIA skipper Anwar Ali decided to bowl first. Salman Butt found the big shots difficult to hit as the Wapda skipper made 73 from 113 balls (five fours and one six).

Mansoor Amjad bludgeoned a brace of sixes and as many fours in making an unbeaten 41 off 29 balls. Slow left-armer Hasan Mahmood snared three wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs.

PIA reached 221-5 in 48.3 overs to emulate UBL by celebrating only their second victory. Opener Abdul Samad (51 off 82 balls, two fours and one six) and Saadullah (49 off 58, seven fours and one six) shared a second-wicket stand worth 86 runs, while Faisal Iqbal ended up scoring an undefeated 45 (52 balls, three boundaries).

With the semi-finalists now confirmed, Thursday’s last round will decide the actual line-ups for Saturday’s semi-finals.

Tuesday’s results:

Sixth round:

At National Stadium, Karachi: Habib Bank Limited beat Khan Research Laboratories by five wickets.

KHAN RESEARCH LABORATORIES 282-9 in 50 overs (Junaid Ali 143, Mohammad Yasin 32, Abdul Rehman Muzammil 25, Saeed Anwar Jr 22; Fahim Ashraf 3-42, Ammad Butt 3-71, Usman Khan Shinwari 2-51); HABIB BANK LIMITED 283-5 in 48.1 overs (Aftab Khan 125 not out, Rameez Aziz 91, Ahmed Shehzad 24, Imam-ul-Haq 22; Sadaf Hussain 2-52).

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: Sui Southern Gas Company beat National Bank of Pakistan by 65 runs.

SUI SOUTHERN GAS COMPANY 246-9 in 50 overs (Zain Abbas 63, Saifullah Khan Bangash 56 not out, Fawad Alam 47, Awais Zia 33; Yasir Hussain 2-35, Qaiser Abbas 2-41, Kamran Ghulam 2-43, Bilal Asif 2-48); NATIONAL BANK OF PAKISTAN 181 in 43.3 overs (Hamza Paracha 40, Bilal Asif 32, Ahsan Ali 29, Rameez Raja 20; Mohammad Irfan 3-29, Shoaib Malik 3-50, Adnan Ghaus 2-1).

At SBP Sports Complex, Karachi: Pakistan International Airlines beat Water and Power Development Authority by five wickets.

WATER AND POWER DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 219-7 in 50 overs (Salman Butt 73, Mansoor Amjad 41, Ayaz Tasawwar 35, Khalid Usman 29; Hasan Mahmood 3-32); PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 221-5 in 48.3 overs (Abdul Samad 51, Saadullah 49, Faisal Iqbal 45, Anwar Ali 36; Khalid Usman 2-40).

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad: United Bank Limited beat Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited by 23 runs.

UNITED BANK LIMITED 265 in 50 overs (Shan Masood 108, Akbar-ur-Rehman 66, Saeed bin Nasir 31, Rumman Raees Khan 20; Azizullah 4-65, Mohammad Hafeez 2-49, Sadaqat Ali 2-51); SUI NORTHERN GAS PIPELINES LIMITED 242 in 48.2 overs (Imran Butt 97, Salman Afridi 48, Khurram Shehzad 39, Hussain Talat 20; Rumman Raees Khan 3-39, Umar Khan 2-54).

Published in Dawn December 28th, 2016