KARACHI: Test seamer Mohammad Abbas claimed six wickets as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) trounced Lahore Blues in less than two days of play in their Super Eight fixture in Hyderabad on Saturday to storm into the final of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship.

The former champions, who has won the coveted first-class title in 2007-08, 2014-15 and 2015-16, won the low-scoring match at the Niaz Stadium by six wickets in a game during which no team managed to reach three figures in its both innings.

Resuming their overnight second innings at 2-0, Lahore Blues were blown away for just 70 with the 27-year-old Abbas grabbing six wickets for 32 runs in 7.1 overs, while veteran left-armer Samiullah Khan Niazi and Azizullah sharing the remaining four wickets.

Needing a paltry 68, SNGPL got home in 21.2 overs by reaching 70-4 with Pakistan opener Azhar Ali making 26 off 42 balls with the aid of three boundaries.

Former Pakistan paceman Aizaz Cheema took all four wickets to fall in SNGPL’s second innings to finish with match figures of nine for 66.

By taking nine points from their second victory in Group-I, SNGPL completed their Super Eight fixtures with an unassailable 21 points to set up a five-day final clash with defending champions Wapda from Dec 21 at a venue yet to be confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

SNGPL’s nearest contenders in the race to make the final were Habib Bank Limited (HBL). But the bankers are struggling against Lahore Whites at the NBP Sports Complex despite earning a lead of 54 on the first innings.

HBL had lost half their side for 72 runs in their second innings when stumps were pulled off for the day with slow left-armer Mohammad Irfan picking up 3-31 so far.

Earlier, Lahore Whites were restricted to 172 in their response to HBL’s first-innings total of 226. Fahad-ul-Haq scored 50 off 105 balls with four fours and two sixes, while stand-in HBL skipper and ex-Pakistan spinner Abdur Rehman took 4-75 in 24 overs.

Group-II leaders Wapda were 94-4 after earning a handy first-innings lead of 72 by dismissing Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) for 160 in their encounter at the SBP Sports Complex.

Earlier, ex-Pakistan seamer Mohammad Asif starred with five for 72 runs in 20.5 overs with Waqas Maqsood taking 3-61.

In the inconsequential tie at the UBL Sports Complex, Saad Ali slammed his third century of the championship as United Bank Limited (UBL) close in on a victory against Khan Research Laboratories.

The highly-talented left-hander, who began day two at 33, hit 109 with his 179-ball knock featuring 18 boundaries while helping UBL post 283 to secure a commanding lead of 132.

SSGC were in trouble at 103-4 in their second knock by close of play.

Close of play scores and result on Saturday (day two of four):

Super Eight:

Third round:

Group-I:

At NBP Sports Complex, HBL 226 in 80.2 overs (Ammad Butt 82, Mohammad Waqas 48, Salman Afridi 40; Adnan Rasool 4-28, Asfand Mehran 2-36) and 72-5 in 37 overs (Ramiz Aziz 24 not out; Mohammad Irfan 3-31); LAHORE WHITES 172 in 62 overs (Fahad-ul-Haq 50, Ameer Hamza 39, Salman Fayyaz 26; Abdur Rehman 4-75, Ammad Butt 3-21)..

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad: SNGPL beat Lahore Blues by six wickets.

LAHORE BLUES 89 in 29.2 overs (Raza Ali Dar 37; Azizullah 5-19, Samiullah Khan Niazi 2-23, Mohammad Abbas 2-40) and 70 in 15.1 overs (Waqas Saleem 18; Mohammad Abbas 6-32, Azizullah 2-6, Samiullah Khan Niazi 2-28); SNGPL 92 in 38.1 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 23; Aizaz Cheema 5-33, Ali Mustafa 3-18, Bilawal Iqbal 2-29) and 70-4 in 21.2 overs (Azhar Ali 26; Aizaz Cheema 4-33).

Group-II:

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: KRL 151 in 50.1 overs (Saif Badar 53, Luqman Butt 25; Mohammad Asghar 3-28, Mir Hamza 3-30, Sameen Gul 3-34) and 103-4 in 40 overs (Jaahid Ali 52 not out; Sameen Gul 2-35); UBL 283 in 79.3 overs (Saad Ali 109, Mohammad Asghar 35Shan Masood 34, Akbar-ur-Rehman 23, Hammad Azam 20; Yasir Ali 3-49, Nauman Ali 3-75, Ahmed Bashir 2-83).

At SBP Sports Complex, Karachi: Wapda 232 in 67 overs (Khalid Usman 78, Khushdil Shah 54, Salman Butt 23; Kashif Bhatti 3-40, Mohammad Irfan Jr 3-68, Adnan Ghaus 2-65) and 97-4 in 54 overs (Zahid Mansoor 36; Mohammad Irfan Jr 2-46; SSGC 160 in 50.5 overs (Sami Aslam 28, Kashif Bhatti 22, Umar Amin 21; Mohammad Asif 5-72, Waqas Maqsood 3-61).

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2017