KARACHI Karachi Whites tightened their grip over National Bank of Pakistan in the RBS Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship's Group 'A' match after centuries from Fazal Subhan and skipper Afsar Nawaz earned the regional side a massive first-innings lead at the NBP Sports Complex here on Thursday.
Fazal scored 107, the 21-year-old right-hander's maiden century in first-class cricket, and Afsar an unbeaten 106 to help Karachi Whites reach 433-6 in response to National Bank's 198 and give them an already impregnable lead of 235 at stumps on day two.
Resuming at 98-2, Karachi Whites lost their third wicket at 184 after opener Mohtashim Ali (63) and Fazal extended their overnight partnership to 130. Fazal was out after striking 12 boundaries in his 157-ball knock.
Afsar then compounded National Bank's misery by stroking 12 fours in his 154-ball innings as he and Babar Rehman (68) put on 127 for the unbroken seventh-wicket stand.
Karachi Blues, meanwhile, confirmed their place in the Dec 20-24 final as the Group 'B' leaders took complete command of their fixture against Quetta at the National Stadium.
After being bowled out for 309 in their first innings, Karachi Blues' bowlers, led by paceman Tanvir Ahmed (4-61) gate-crashed through Quetta batting to bundle them out for a paltry 139.
However, skipper Mohammad Sami decided against enforcing the follow on despite his team enjoying a lead of 170 runs as he wanted the batsmen to gain welcome practice for the final.
As a result, Karachi Blues reached 64-1 in the second innings to hold an overall advantage of 234 runs by stumps.
Hyderabad's miserable season continued as they crumbled to 178 all out after Sialkot amassed 461 in their first innings at the Niaz Stadium. The highlight of the day was Bilawal Bhatti's fine all-round performance.
After contributing a career-best 70 with the bat, the paceman ripped the heart out of Hyderabad's batting with figures of 5-63.
Wapda skipper Bilal Khilji rescued his side out of trouble by smashing 138 (190 balls, 16 fours and four sixes) as he and Ali Azmat (88 off 127 balls, 15 boundaries) put on an unbroken 219-run stand after Wapda lost five wickets for just 93 runs in reply to Pakistan Customs' 120 at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad.
Khan Research Laboratories gained a vital lead of 42 runs after making 179-2 in reply to Sui Southern Gas Company's first-innings tally of 137 at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi.
SSGC lost their last six wickets for just 35 runs after resuming at 102-4 with former Test paceman Yasir Ali taking 5-43.
Abbottabad reached 47-2 after Rawalpindi were all out for 201 in the weather-hit match at the National Ground in Islamabad.
Rawalpindi were at one stage 90-6 but tenacious batting from the tail lifted their spirits. Abbottabad's left-arm opening bowlers Junaid Khan 95-98) and Armaghan Elahi (4-72) shared the wickets.
Our Sports Reporter adds from Lahore Former Pakistan Under-19 paceman Anwar Ali snared 6-62 to help PIA bowl out Lahore Shalimar for 177 in their first innings at the Gaddafi Stadium.
PIA, in reply, four wickets in making 161 runs by close of play after Kamran Sajid (48 not out) and Shoaib Khan (56) were involved in a fourth-wicket partnership of 94.
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) fought back splendidly to reach 233 after being 133-7 in their first innings against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) in Gujranwala. Yasir Shah masterminded the rescue act with an unbeaten 59.
ZTBL, in their turn, closed at 47-2 after paceman Asad Ali trapped both Faisal Naved and Shahid Yousuf leg-before-wickets on successive deliveries.
Lahore Ravi were struggling at 124-5 after dismissing Peshawar for 236 in the Group 'B' tie at the LCCA Ground. Peshawar captain Sajjad Ahmed Jan finished undefeated with 104 (267 balls, 14 fours) after starting the day on 58.
Lahore Ravi's lanky fast bowler Mohammad Irshad bagged 5-50 in 25.5 overs.
Islamabad reached 229-5 after hosts Multan made 352 in their first innings at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Skipper Naved Yasin added only 19 runs to his Wednesday's tally of 112 before he was caught behind for 131 (177 balls, 10 fours).
