KARACHI: Wapda pulled off an exciting one-wicket victory over Karachi Whites in a Group ‘A’ fixture of the RBS Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship at the NBP Sports Complex here on Wednesday.

Wapda, chasing 259, started the final day at 152-6 and gradually reached their target thanks to tailender Azharullah’s unbeaten 35.

Ahmed Said, who resumed at 48, contributed an invaluable 73 (171 balls, eight fours) while Umaid Asif scored 26.

By virtue of this win, Wapda moved into the top five of this pool with 27 points.

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) emerged as outright leaders after recording their sixth straight victory as they defeated Habib Bank by 73 runs at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad.

The bankers were dismissed for 179 after being set a reachable target of 253.

SNGPL’s star performer was the left-arm seamer Samiullah Niazi who bagged 6-32 in 15 overs. SNGPL have collected 48 points with Habib Bank remaining second on 42.

The KRL-National Bank match at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi ended in a tame draw with Mohammad Wasim scoring an unbeaten 100 as the hosts reached 272-5 in the second innings.

Meanwhile, Group ‘B’ leaders Karachi Blues earned a 41-run lead after Faisalabad were all out for 360 in their first innings on the third day of the match at the National Stadium. The hosts then closed at 81-1 to have an overall lead of 122.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Lahore: Lahore Shalimar drew with Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) in the Group ‘A’ match at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The regional side finished at 217-6 in the second innings after SSGC set them a victory target of 299. Suleman Khan scored 61 while adding 82 for the unbroken seventh-wicket stand with Shiraz Butt (25).

Earlier, SSGC declared their unfinished second innings at 183-5 with former international Imran Abbas making 66.

Sialkot kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the final with an emphatic 158-run defeat of Rawalpindi at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot. The result put the defending champions into second place with 36 points.

Rawalpindi, set a tough chase of 386 runs, were eventually all out for 227 with Nayyar Abbas claiming 5-37 with his occasional slow left-armers.

Multan ran out comfortable winners by seven wickets against Abbottabad at the Gymkhana Club Ground in Okara with young wicket-keeper Gulraiz Sadaf leading the way with his maiden first-class century. He struck an undefeated 118 off 151 balls with 15 fours and two sixes.