KARACHI: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) batted themselves into a winning position after amassing 508-8 in their first innings to hold a huge 421-run lead over Karachi Whites in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship Group ‘A’ match at the National Stadium here on Friday.

Elsewhere, National Bank temporarily moved into the top of Group ‘A’ standings after completing a two-day rout of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) in Faisalabad while Misbah-ul-Haq and Usman Arshad made first-class history by sharing Pakistan’s highest fifth-wicket partnership as they put on an unbroken 479 against Lahore Shalimar.

Karachi Whites, who were dismissed for 87 on Thursday, were hapless to prevent KRL scoring freely on the second day of the four-day fixture. Resuming at 210-3, the visitors added 298 runs in 83 overs with Ali Khan scoring an undefeated 117 after skipper Mohammad Wasim failed to add to his overnight tally of 69.

PIA were in some strife as they struggled to 185-6 after Pakistan Customs were bowled out for 227 in their first innings at the NBP Sports Complex. Left-arm paceman Najaf Shah grabbed 4-31 as Customs lost their last four wickets on Friday for the addition of only 11 runs.

Test opener Khurram Manzoor continued his good form with a painstaking 51 in 221 minutes after Yasir Hameed departed for a four-ball duck. Khurram’s 191-ball knock included three fours. Shoaib Malik hit 30 and skipper Faisal Iqbal 11.

Karachi Blues were strongly placed as hosts Islamabad reached 204-6 in response to the Blues’ first-innings total of 396 at the Diamond Club Ground with paceman Tanvir Ahmed taking three of the wickets.

Fawad Hussain struck 150 (190 balls, 23 fours and two sixes) to help Rawalpindi pile up 529 against Quetta at the National Ground in Islamabad. Quetta ended the day in deep trouble at 116-5 with medium-pacer Rashid Latif claiming 3-15 in 10 overs.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Lahore: Misbah-ul-Haq smashed 284 — the right-hander’s highest first-class score — Usman Arshad made a career-best 183 as the pair established a new fifth-wicket partnership to help SNGPL declare their first innings at 609-6 against Lahore Shalimar the LCCA Ground.

Misbah, on Thursday was left out from all three squads the national selectors announced for the matches against New Zealand, surpassed his previous best score of 247, scored against Southern Sui Gas Corporation (SSGC) at Sheikhupura last season, as he and Usman obliterated the national record held by Karachi’s Asif Mujtaba and Mohammad Masroor who were involved in an unfinished 361-run partnership against Sheikhupura in the Quaid Trophy tie at the UBL Sports Complex in November 2000.

Misbah’s grand 327-ball innings lasted 432 minutes and included 39 fours and four sixes. Usman, who played second fiddle to his skipper, contributed 183 off 286 deliveries with 24 hits to the fence and one over it in his knock which spanned 392 minutes.

By close of play, Lahore Shalimar were left needing 301 runs to avoid the follow-on as they stumbled to 158-5.

National Bank trounced ZTBL by nine wickets inside two days of their match in Faisalabad with young paceman Mohammad Talha nudged the selectors by taking 5-37 as ZTBL were dismissed for 201 in their second innings.

Earlier, Kamran Akmal played a captain’s hand as National Bank made 292 to earn a first-innings lead of 177. Kamran slammed 109 off 123 balls with 15 fours and two sixes.

Wapda were on top after making 411 against Habib Bank at the Gaddafi Stadium with tailender Umaid Asif scoring 67. The bankers lost the key wickets of Imran Farhat, Ahmed Shahzad and Taufiq Umar to close at 64-3.