KARACHI: Karachi Blues strengthened their grip against Lahore Ravi in the Group ‘B’ fixture of the RBS Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship at the National Stadium here on Tuesday.

The Blues gained a substantial first-innings lead of 107 after bowling out Lahore Ravi for 190 with their Kuwait-born paceman Tanvir Ahmed taking his sixth five-wicket haul to become the first bowler this season to claim 50 wickets.

Tanvir, who captured 5-65 in 19 overs, was ably supported by off-spinner Atif Maqbool with 3-30.

By stumps on day two, the home side extended their overall lead to 209 by reaching 102-4 in the second innings with Shahzeb Hasan striking 44 to follow his 127 in the first innings.

Hosts Abbottabad gained a lead of 30 runs after dismissing Peshawar for a paltry first-innings total of 81 at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium with left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan taking 6-43 in 16.4 overs.

Abbottabad closed at 16-0 in the second innings.Multan, inspired by 22-year-old Naved Yasin’s fourth century in five matches, built a 200-run lead over Hyderabad after amassing 394-7 at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad.

The left-handed Naved hit 111 off 192 balls with 10 boundaries. Meanwhile, three matches started on Tuesday after the previous day saw no action at all because of rain.

Rawalpindi, who are currently lying second behind Karachi Blues in Group ‘B’, posted 218-8 after hosts Islamabad inserted them in at the Diamond Club Ground.

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) were in some bother at 77-4 in reply to Pakistan Customs’ first-innings score of 169 in the Group ‘A’ match at the Marghzar Cricket Ground in Islamabad.

In the same group, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) were struggling at 116-6 after Habib Bank opted to field first at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Lahore: A magnificent maiden unbeaten century by opener Naved Khan helped Karachi Whites score 233-3 in reply to Lahore Shalimar’s first-innings total of 257 in the Group ‘A’ tie at Gaddafi Stadium.

Naved was batting on 108 (255 balls, 14 fours) and shared a third-wicket partnership of 151 with Atif Ali Zaidi who hit a patient 58 off 156 balls with five boundaries.

Pacemen Anwar Ali and Ali Imran Pasha claimed four wickets each to help PIA earn a slender nine-run lead over National Bank at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

Anwar (4-58) and Ali Imran (4-53) restricted the bankers, who were 55-5 at start of play on Tuesday, to 170 in reply to PIA’s first-innings tally of 179. NBP resumed the first innings in the morning from precarious situation of 55-5.

By close of play, PIA were 112-2 in their second knock with left-handed opener Agha Sabir batting on 49.

Zulqarnain struck an unbeaten 77 as Faisalabad reached 350 against Quetta after resuming at 234-7. Quetta were 64-3 at draw of stumps.

Wapda declared their first innings at 446-8 after resuming at 204-2 against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) at the Jinnah Stadium in Gujranwala. ZTBL were 16 without loss in reply.