KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) were one step away from reaching the semi-finals of the Patron’s Trophy (Grade-II) cricket tournament after dominating the first day’s play against the Saudi Cricket International here on Monday.

Opting to bowl first in the last-round Group ‘A’ fixture at the UBL Sports Complex, the SSGC dismissed the Saudi Cricket International for 173 in their first innings with slow left-armer Mohammad Irfan taking four wickets for 54.

Discarded Pakistan T20 opener Awais Zia then hit an undefeated 108 as the SSGC raked up 198-1 in only 35 overs. Haris Ali Khan is batting on 59.

K-Electric, who are still in contention if the SSGC slip up, made 255 after electing to bat first against Pakistan Navy at the Arabian Sea Country Ground. Majid Khan excelled with a knock of 99.

Navy were in trouble at 33-3 when stumps were drawn for the day.

In the inconsequential third Group ‘A’ tie at the NBP Sports Complex, Faisal Mubashir scored 101 as Pakistan Customs collected 291-9 in the allotted 83 overs before Sindh Police replied with 44-0 in five overs.

In the weather-hit Group ‘B’ fixture at Rawalpindi’s Army Cricket Ground, Pakistan Army had reached 170-3 in 51 overs after Dollar East decided to field first upon winning the toss.

In the other Group ‘B’ encounter at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad, Nadra were struggling at 117-5 after being sent into bat by the Pakistan Education Board (PEB).

In the battle to make last four from Group ‘C’, the Karachi Port Trust went to stumps at 116-5 after Omar Associates, who had been asked to bat first, were dismissed for 177 at the Lahore Country Club in Muridke. Paceman Adeel Malik captured 6-55.

In the same pool, Candyland plundered 429-4 in 83 overs at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot where Face Fresh opted to bowl first at the toss. Sohail Akhtar hammered an unbeaten 153 while Shahzaib Ahmed contributed 118.

Face Fresh closed at 23-0 in 11 overs.

Sayid Paper Mills (SPM), already through to the semi-finals from Group ‘D’, restricted second-placed Khayaban-e-Amin to 225 all out at the LCCA Ground in Lahore before reaching 62-1 in 21 overs.

At the Khayaban-e-Amin Ground, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) were all out for 104 after asked to bat first by Service Industries who then posted 234-5 in reply.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) managed 260 in their first innings after Medicam won the toss and decided to bowl first at the Stags Cricket Ground in the Model area of Lahore. By the close of play, Medicam had made 11-0.

Close of play scores on Monday (day one of three):

Group ‘A’:

At Arabian Sea Country Club, Karachi: K-ELECTRIC 255 in 68.4 overs (Majid Khan 99, Shahzaib Ahmed 35, Misbah Khan 33; Zohaib Shera 3-34); PAKISTAN NAVY 33-3 in 17 overs.

At NBP Sports Complex, Karachi: PAKISTAN CUSTOMS 291-9 in 83 overs (Faisal Mubashir 101, Waqas Khan 56, Zeeshan Ali 50; Shiraz Ali 4-48, Yasir Hussain 4-115); SINDH POLICE 44-0 in 5 overs.

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: SAUDI CRICKET INTERNATIONAL 173 in 54.3 overs (Rao Waqar 53, Mohammad Zohaib 36; Mohammad Irfan 4-54, Taj Wali 3-37); SSGC 198-1 in 35 overs (Awais Zia 108 not out, Haris Ali Khan 59 not out).

Group ‘B’:

At Army Cricket Ground, Rawalpindi: PAKISTAN ARMY 170-3 in 51 overs (Miqdad Hussain 52, Mohammad Younis 45 not out; Ahmed Faraz 3-71) v DOLLAR EAST.

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: NADRA 117-5 in 44.4 overs (Mohammad Naqqash 49 not out; Waqar Malik 4-38) v PEB.

Group ‘C’:

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: CANDYLAND 429-4 in 83 overs (Sohail Akhtar 153 not out, Shahzaib Ahmed 118 Jawwad Alam 62, Javedullah 50); FACE FRESH 23-0 in 11 overs.

At Lahore Country Club, Muridke: OMAR ASSOCIATES 177 in 55.2 overs (Zeeshan Jamil 35, Zakir Ali 30; Adeel Malik 6-55); KPT 116-5 in 31.4 overs (Ahmed 33, Nabeel Malik 30).

Group ‘D’:

At LCCA Ground Lahore: KHAYABAN-E-AMIN 225 in 67 overs (Haroon 59, Zeeshan Ashraf 38, Yasir Ajmal 37, Waqar Hussain 35); SAYID PAPER MILLS 62-1 in 21 overs.

At Khayaban-e-Amin Cricket Ground, Lahore: ETPB 104 in 35.2 overs (Zeeshan Farooq 35, Waqas Ali 35; Khushnood Ahmed 4-25); SERVICE INDUSTRIES 234-5 in 55 overs (Adil Rehan 60 not out, Umair Sharif 57).

At Stags Cricket Ground Model Town, Lahore: HEC 260 in 72.3 overs (Adil Akram 72, Salman Ali Agha 46; Ali Raza 5-69, Umar Khan 3-44); MEDICAM 11-0 in 5 overs.