LAHORE, Nov 28: A splendid half-century by Sarfraz Ahmed piloted Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to their second consecutive victory as the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) suffered their second defeat on the trot in the Faysal Bank Departmental T20 Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday.

Pakistan wicket-keeper Sarfraz hit a 47-ball 59 with seven fours and one six as the national carrier successfully chased a target of 151 with one ball to spare for the loss of four wickets on the second day of the tournament.

PIA, who beat KRL in a low-scoring match on the event’s opening day, however, compounded NBP’s misery after the bankers had been stunned by newcomers Pakistan Television (PTV) on Wednesday.

Sarfraz with Fahad Iqbal (27 off 25 balls) made light work of the chase by adding 88 for the second wicket after PIA skipper Kamran Sajid (19) was caught at the wicket by his NBP counterpart Kamran Akmal off left-arm seamer Zia-ul-Haq.

After Sarfraz and Fahad departed, PIA needed 39 from four overs but experienced Shoaib Malik, who hit two sixes in his unbeaten 24 off 21 balls, saw his team home on the penultimate delivery.

Discarded Pakistan all-rounder Hammad Azam took two wickets for 28 runs.

Earlier, NBP again made a sluggish start as Sami Aslam departed on the second ball — caught by Sarfraz off left-armer Najaf Shah — of the opening over for a duck, while Kamran Akmal became Aizaz Cheema’s victim through a catch by Shoaib Malik.

Fawad Alam then continued his good form by hammering six fours and one six in scoring an undefeated 64 off 43 balls. Fawad was involved in a second-wicket partnership of 95 with fellow left-hander Aqeel Anjum who contributed a 49-ball 60 that included seven fours, one six.

NBP eventually reached 151-5 in their stipulated overs. Kamran Sajid bagged two for 33.

PTV, meanwhile, continued their giant-killing act for the second day running when they sealed a four-wicket win against the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) at the LCCA Ground.

Zohaib Ahmed led from the front with figures of two for 28 as the SBP collected 142-4 with their skipper Kashif Siddique blasting 43 from 22 balls (five boundaries and three sixes) and Usman Saeed making an unbeaten 36 off 44 balls (four fours).

PTV’s chase began on a stuttering note when they lost four wickets for 50 runs before left-hander Mohammad Sami (47 off 38 balls, three fours and two sixes) and Zohaib (35 not out from 32 balls with two boundaries) added 59 to put their side back on track.

Meanwhile, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) enjoyed their first taste of a win when they handed United Bank Limited (UBL) their second loss in two days. KRL ran out comfortable victors by six wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium.

After restricting UBL to 125-6, KRL romped home with four balls to spare. Mohammad Yasin (37 off 43 balls, six fours) and captain Saeed Anwar Jr (31 off 34, four boundaries) shared a second-wicket partnership of 59 before Naved Yasin (31 off 14 balls, three fours and two sixes) finished the game in style.

After being defeated by Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) on Wednesday evening, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) demolished Port Qasim Authority (PQA) in a clinical 10-wicket rout at the LCCA Ground.

In conditions favouring seam bowling, PQA had no escape once SNGPL skipper Taufiq Umar won the toss and decided to field first. In 18.2 overs PQA were blown away for 86 after losing half their side for 32. Mohammad Waqas’ 31 off 48 balls (three boundaries) served to add respectively to the total.

Reputed batsmen such as Shahzaib Hasan (10), Khalid Latif (1) and Khurram Manzoor (third-ball duck) all failed as veteran left-arm seamer Samiullah Khan Niazi (3-12 in four overs), Imran Ali (2-21) and slow left-armer Imran Khalid (2-9) shared the wickets.

Taufiq and Mohammad Rizwan completed the last rites to this one-sided encounter in only 12.1 overs. Taufiq hit up 39 (36 balls, five boundaries) while Rizwan scored a 37-ball 41 with three fours.

Mohammad Khalil, the discarded Test left-arm paceman, starred with a superb four-over effort of four for 19 as ZTBL downed Younis Khan-led Habib Bank Limited (HBL) by eight wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium.

HBL, asked to bat first by Imran Nazir, recovered from 38-3 to post 149-7. Test opener Shan Masood batted attractively to strike five fours in his 28-ball 34. Younis didn’t manage a single boundary but still scored 33 off 35 balls, while Hasan Raza got 25 from 23 balls with a brace of fours.

ZTBL made a brisk start when Imran bludgeoned four fours and a six in his 10-ball cameo of 23 before cutting Umar Gul straight to Aftab Khan at point.

Sharjeel Khan survived a few close calls before he was out for 24 (21 balls, two sixes and two fours). It was left to Yasir Hameed (47 off 45, six fours) and Haris Sohail (40 off 41, two fours and one six) to see ZTBL over line in the unfinished stand of 81 with four deliveries left.

Thursday’s results: Group ‘A’: At Gaddafi Stadium: Khan Research Laboratories beat United Bank Limited by six wickets.

UNITED BANK LIMITED 125-6 in 20 overs (Khaqan Arsal 28 not out, Kashif Bhatti 23; Yasir Arafat 2-24, Ali Khan 2-30); KHAN RESEARCH LABORATORIES 126-4 in 19.2 overs (Mohammad Yasin 37, Saeed Anwar Jr 31, Naved Yasin 31 not out).

At Gaddafi Stadium: Pakistan International Airlines beat National Bank of Pakistan by six wickets.

NATIONAL BANK OF PAKISTAN 151-5 in 20 overs (Fawad Alam 64 not out, Aqeel Anjum 60; Kamran Sajid 2-33); PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 154-4 in 19.5 overs (Sarfraz Ahmed 59, Fahad Iqbal 27, Shoaib Malik 24 not out; Hammad Azam 2-28).

Group ‘B’: At LCCA Ground: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited beat Port Qasim Authority by 10 wickets.

PORT QASIM AUTHORITY 86 in 18.2 overs (Mohammad Waqas 31; Samiullah Khan Niazi 3-12, Imran Khalid 2-9, Imran Ali 2-21); SUI NORTHERN GAS PIPELINES LIMITED 87-0 in 12.1 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 41 not out, Taufiq Umar 39 not out).

At LCCA Ground: Pakistan Television beat State Bank of Pakistan by four wickets.

STATE BANK OF PAKISTAN 142-4 in 20 overs (Kashif Siddique 43, Usman Saeed 39 not out, Farrukh Shehzad 22; Zohaib Ahmed 2-28); PAKISTAN TELEVISION 143-6 in 19.2 overs (Mohammad Sami 47, Zohaib Ahmed 35 not out, Zeeshan Mushtaq 28; Kashif Siddique 2-15, Rizwan Haider 2-23).

At Gaddafi Stadium: Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited beat Habib Bank Limited by eight wickets.

HABIB BANK LIMITED 149-7 in 20 overs (Shan Masood 34, Younis Khan 33, Hasan Raza 25; Mohammad Khalil 4-19, Usman Khan Shinwari 2-35); ZARAI TARAQIATI BANK LIMITED 153-2 in 19.2 overs (Yasir Hameed 47 not out, Haris Sohail 40 not out, Sharjeel Khan 24, Imran Nazir 23).

Friday’s fixtures: HBL v PQA (Gaddafi Stadium, 9:30am); WAPDA v ZTBL (LCCA Ground, 9:30am); KRL v SBP (Gaddafi Stadium, 1:15pm); NBP v UBL (LCCA Ground, 1:15pm); PIA v PTV (Gaddafi Stadium, 5:00pm).