KARACHI: PIA made early inroads to dismiss Karachi Whites for a modest 192 on the opening day of the fourth-round RBS Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship’s Group ‘A’ fixture at the National Stadium here on Wednesday.

Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan wicket-keeper deputizing for regular skipper Faisal Iqbal (away on national duty for the Hong Kong Sixes event), inserted Karachi Whites into bat after winning the toss. His decision paid off as wickets fell at regular intervals throughout the day.

Opener Naved Khan (55 off 95 balls with seven boundaries) and the experienced Afsar Nawaz (51 off 111 balls with eight fours) were the only batsmen from the regional side to make respectable contributions.

PIA completed a good day at the office by reaching 60 without loss in 16 overs with Test opener Khurram Manzoor (24) and the left-handed Agha Sabir (26) at the crease.

Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) overcame a difficult start to reach 250-9 against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi. Having lost the toss, KRL crashed to 110-7 before former Test right-hander Zahoor Elahi and Noman Ali repaired the damage in a fighting partnership of 119.

Zahoor was two shy of his century when stumps were drawn for the day. His 98 off 157 balls include 10 fours and one six. Noman scored a 131-ball 46 with five boundaries.

Opening bowler Junaid Nadir was ZTBL’s best bowler with 5-58 in 22.5 overs.

Group ‘B’ leaders Karachi Blues, meanwhile, faced a difficult first day against Rawalpindi after winning the toss at the National Ground in Islamabad.

Second-placed Rawalpindi did well to total 271 after losing half their side for 118 with opener Babar Naeem (50), skipper Naveed Qureshi (40), Yasim Murtaza (36), Jamal Anwar (31 not out) and Haseeb Azam (32) all making useful runs. Jamal and Haseeb shared a crucial last-wicket stand of 59.

The Blues, in their turn, found the going tough as they stumbled to 54-4 at stumps with speedster Mohammad Rameez sending back Ali Asad, Asad Shafiq and ex-Test batsman Asim Kamal a hostile eight-over burst.

The bowlers dominated the proceedings at the nearby Diamond Club Ground with no less than 17 wickets falling. Quetta, who were put into bat by Islamabad, made 163 in the first innings after being 75-7 at one stage. Quetta then reduced the hosts to 112-7 in reply.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Lahore: Fawad Alam missed out scoring his third century of the season by two runs as National Bank recovered to reach 267-5 in their first innings against Habib Bank at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The left-handed Fawad struck 98 off 161 balls with 13 boundaries before he fell to Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Qaiser Abbas and Rashid Riaz also played significant knocks in partnerships with Fawad after National Bank lost three wickets for 42 runs after losing the toss Fawad and Rashid added 128 for the fourth wicket before the latter was dismissed for 60.

Qaiser then helped Fawad put on 75. Qaiser is still at the crease with 60. Lahore Shalimar were all out for 173 with Wapda’s pacers Sarfraz Ahmed and Umaid Asif sharing eight wickets between them at the LCCA Ground. Wapda closed at 100-4.

Left-arm seamer Samiullah Niazi grabbed five wickets to help Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) bowl out Sui Southern Gas Corporation (SSGC) for a paltry first-innings total of 160 at the Sheikhupura Stadium.

The only man to shine for SSGC was their young opener Azeem Ghumman who made 88. SNGPL consolidated their position as they ended the day on 101-1.