KARACHI, Dec 24: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) is facing a daunting task to avoid defeat in their Patron’s Trophy Grade-I match against Habib Bank at UBL Sports Complex on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 325 in 118 overs on a pitch favouring spin bowling, SNGPL closed the third day of the four-day match on 118 for three in the second innings, while still needing 207.

SNGPL’s hopes of a remarkable victory now squarely depend on Sufyan Munir (58 with seven fours and one six) and skipper Misbahul Haq (16) on a last-day pitch with their tormentor Abdur Rahman, the slow left-armer, the main threat.

Rahman has already taken 10 wickets in the match including two in the second innings.

Earlier, the bankers’ batting crumbled for 199 in the second innings despite half-centuries from their skipper Younis Khan and wicket-keeper Humayun Farhat.

Younis, the Pakistan vice-captain, stroked an enterprising 54 in 91 minutes with seven hits to the ropes while Humayun belted seven boundaries in a 48-ball 52. The pair put on an invaluable 79 for the sixth-wicket.

Slow left-armer Imran Khalid once again bowled impressively to grab four for 63 in 17.2 overs. He finished with a match bag of nine for 135.

Paceman Asad Ali captured three for 56 in 12 overs.

Scoreboard

HABIB BANK (1st Innings) 274 (Imran Khalid 5-72).

SNGPL (1st Innings) 149 (Abdur Rahman 8-53).

HABIB BANK (2nd Innings, overnight 31-1):

Imran Farhat c Sohail b Asad 2

Taufiq Umar b Asad 27

Aftab Khan c Salman b Asad 12

Younis Khan c Salman b Mahmood 54

Hasan Raza run out 14

Farhan Adil c Arsalan b Imran 4

Humayun Farhat c Sohail b Imran 52

Abdur Rahman c Salman b Mahmood 1

Kamran Hussain not out 19

Junaid Zia b Imran 1

Fahad Masood c Sohail b Imran 2

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-2, NB-7) 11

TOTAL (all out, 57.2 overs) 199

FALL OF WKTS: 1-11, 2-32, 3-51, 4-84, 5-89, 6-168, 7-176, 8-184, 9-187.

BOWLING: Samiullah Niazi 16-2-45-0 (2nb); Asad Ali 12-0-56-3 (7nb); Imran Khalid 17.2-3-63-4; Mahmood Malik 9-3-19-2; Mohammad Hafeez 3-0-12-0.

SNGPL (2nd Innings):

Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Fahad 2

Sohail Idrees c Younis b Rahman 34

Sufyan Munir not out 58

Arsalan Mir lbw b Rahman 5

Misbahul Haq 16

EXTRAS (NB-3) 15

TOTAL (for three wkts, 35 overs) 118

FALL OF WKTS: 1-12, 2-56, 3-86.

BOWLING (to-date): Fahad Masood 7-1-16-1 (2nb); Kamran Hussain 5-0-30-0; Junaid Zia 4-1-17-0; Abdur Rahman 12-2-40-2; Imran Farhat 7-2-15-0.—APP