KARACHI: Fine batting by Naved Khan, Afsar Nawaz and Atif Ali Zaidi enabled Karachi Whites to make a promising start on the first day of the RBS Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship match against Group ‘A’ leaders Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) at the National Stadium here on Saturday.

Opener Naved hit 86 (169 balls, 12 boundaries), Afsar 59 (102 balls, seven fours) and Atif made 55 (120 balls, eight fours) as Karachi Whites reached 314-7 in their first innings after SNGPL skipper Azhar Shafiq won the toss and decided to field first.

Azhar’s decision paid off at the start as the hosts lost two early wickets for 17 runs. But Naved and the left-handed Atif then joined hands to add 153 for the third wicket.

After both were dismissed by off-spinner Adnan Rasool, Afsar and wicket-keeper Mohammad Hasan (47, seven boundaries) put on 86 for the sixth wicket before they too fell to Adnan who ended the day with impressive figures of 4-63 in 20 overs.

Discarded Test spinner Abdul Rehman picked up 5-42 in 28 overs as PIA struggled to 206-9 against Habib Bank at the Marghzar Cricket Ground in Islamabad.

National Bank dominated play at the National Ground in Islamabad where Pakistan Customs folded up for 157 with pacemen Uzair-ul-Haq and Mohammad Talha taking three wickets. The bankers closed at 114-4 with opener Rashid Riaz doing well on 77.

Hyderabad, meanwhile, nullified Faisalabad’s decision to bowl first by making 301 in the Group ‘B’ match at the Niaz Stadium. Hanif-ur-Rehman slammed 14 fours in scoring 79. Faisalabad were 14-0 in reply.

On an eventful opening day at the Diamond Club Ground, hosts Islamabad were bowled out for 182 by Abbottabad who then lost four wickets in scoring 69 runs.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Lahore: Skipper Saeed bin Nasir played a fine knock of 74 to help Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) score 230-6 against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) in the Group ‘A’ tie at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Saeed, who struck 11 boundaries in his 89-ball innings, and Rizwan Ahmed (55 off 84 balls, seven fours and one six), shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 114 after ZTBL captain Abdul Razzaq, the Pakistan all-rounder, sent back openers Asif Zakir (0) and Imran Abbas (15) and Azhar Attari got rid of Bilal Asad (9).

Rawalpindi made a slow start to reach 201-5 after Lahore Ravi elected to field first in the Group ‘A’ match at the LCCA Ground. Skipper Naveed Qureshi was the day’s top-scorer with an unbeaten 57.

An undefeated 102 (244 balls, 15 fours) from Mohammad Idrees guided Peshawar to 234-4 against defending champions Sialkot at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot.

Having lost both openers cheaply, Peshawar built their first innings around a 123-run partnership between Idrees and skipper Sajjad Ahmed Jan who was run out after contributing 57. Jamaluddin was batting on 41 when play ended for the day.

Quetta overcame the first-ball dismissal of Shoaib Khan to reach 271-8 after Multan invited them to bat first at the Gymkhana Club Ground in Okara.